class hierarchy
<programming> A set of classes and their interrelationships.
One class may be a specialisation (a "subclass" or "derived class") of another
which is one of its "superclasses" or "base classes".
When a method is invoked on an object it is first looked for in the object's
class, then the superclass of that class, and so on up the hierarchy until it is
found. Thus a class need only define those methods which are specific to it, and
inherits methods from all its superclasses.
See also: multiple inheritance.
(1997-08-06)
Nearby terms:
Claris « CLASP « class « class hierarchy »
classic » Classic-Ada » classical logic
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