Object Oriented Programming - C++

Multiple Inheritance - C++

Multiple Inheritance is achieved by creating a new or a derived class from more than one exisiting classes.

The format for multiple inheritance follows the following pattern:

class Derived: access_specifier Base1, access_specifier Base2, ….
{
// Code for the derived class
};

• Let Base be a base class, and
• Let Derived_1, and Derived_2, be derived classes of Base.
• Let NewlyDerived be derived from both Derived_1, and Derived_2.

Closer analysis of the above indicates that the class NewlyDerived has two copies of Base.

When a class is derived from more than one base classes, ambiguities can arise when accessing:

• Data members, or
• Member functions

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Virtual base Classes

To avoid any possibly ambiguity, declare Derived_1, and Derived_2 virtual base classes.

The format for the class derivation follows the following pattern:
(i)

class Derived_1: virtual access_specifier Base {
// Code for the derived class
};

(ii)

class Derived_2: virtual access_specifier Base {
// Code for the derived class
};

(iii)

class NewlyDerived: access_specifier Derived_1, access_specifier Derived_2…. {
// Code for the derived class
};

Demonstrations Programs

Multiple Inheritance: Introduction

Multiple Inheritance: Ambiguities Arising from Several Classes

Multiple Inheritance: Resolving Ambiguities Caused by Several Classes

Multiple Inheritance: Ambiguities Arising from Several Copies of A Base Class

Multiple Inheritance: Resolving Ambiguities Caused by Several Copies of A Base Class

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