Inheritance is an important idea in object-oriented programming (OOP). It lets classes inherit features from other classes. This helps us use code more than once and makes it easier to organize our classes. Because of this, it helps improve how we build software and design systems.

How Inheritance Affects Class Structure:

1. Inheritance Hierarchy:

   • Think of inheritance like a family tree. A subclass takes on traits from its parent class, called a superclass. For example, in a system for different types of vehicles, you might have:
     • Vehicle (the main class)
       • Car (a type of vehicle)
       • Truck (another type)
       • Motorcycle (yet another type)

2. Code Reusability:

   • According to a study by IBM, about 80% of the cost to develop software comes from keeping it working over time. Inheritance helps save money by letting subclasses use methods and fields from the superclass. This means we don’t have to write the same code again and again, which cuts down on mistakes.

What Inheritance Affects in Classes:

1. Fields:

   • Fields are like the properties of an object. Subclasses get these fields from their superclasses. For example, all vehicles might have fields like color, make, and model. A Car might also have a numberOfDoors, and a Truck could have a payloadCapacity.

2. Methods:

   • Methods are what the class objects can do. Subclasses can change how the methods work, called overriding. For instance, if Vehicle has a move() method, a Car can have its own version that includes how it speeds up.

3. Constructors:

   • A constructor sets up a class's fields when it is created. A subclass can call its superclass's constructor to make sure it correctly sets up everything. For example, if Vehicle has a constructor that sets color, subclasses can use super() to call it.

The Impact of Inheritance:

• Research shows that using inheritance can reduce the amount of code needed by 20% to 30%. This happens because we focus on shared features in superclasses instead of writing them out over and over in different subclasses.
• Studies also show that about 70% of software bugs come from making things too complicated. Inheritance can help simplify things, but it can also make them more complex if not done carefully.

In conclusion, inheritance is a big deal in OOP. It helps us create clear relationships between classes and promotes reusable code. This makes software easier to maintain and can lower overall development costs.