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Inheritance

8 Topics
1

Inheritance Basics

Examine IS-A relationships, subclass structural layouts, parent member visibility, and compile-time rules vs runtime layout execution.

Focuses on stack vs heap memory layouts during class hierarchy instantiation, IS-A vs HAS-A modeling, and visibility access modifiers.
2

super Keyword

Deconstruct parent reference access, field shadowing resolutions, constructor invocation rules, and static context constraints.

Evaluates parent constructor invocation sequencing, field shadowing resolution with super, and compiler rules regarding super in static contexts.
3

Method Overriding

Master runtime dynamic binding, vtable lookups, signature rules, exception variance boundaries, and final/static constraints.

Core interview focus: dynamic binding, exception throwing constraints, covariance return rules, and the difference between overriding and hiding.
4

Types of Inheritance

Compare single, multilevel, and hierarchical inheritance models, and dissect why multiple inheritance of classes is prohibited.

Evaluates conceptual trade-offs between deep class hierarchies (fragile base class) and shallow delegation, and mechanisms to model complex types.
5

Multiple Inheritance

Dissect interface-based multiple inheritance, default method diamond resolutions, static helpers, and private interface methods.

Highly tested: Diamond problem resolution rules with default methods (Java 8+), Interface.super call syntax, and static/private interface rules.
6

Constructor Chaining

Analyze subclass-to-parent execution flow, implicit super() injections, and critical constructor safety invariants.

Commonly tested: construction execution order, compiler default constructor rules, and dangers of invoking overridable methods in constructors.
7

Covariant Return Type

Deconstruct covariant return mechanics, compiler type checking, and API usability enhancements.

Evaluates understanding of method overriding return type constraints and how covariant returns reduce client-side type casting.
8

instanceof Operator

Master runtime type verification, ClassCastException prevention, and Java 16+ Pattern Matching syntax and scope rules.

Critical modern Java topic: pattern matching for instanceof (Java 16+), flow scoping rules, and null reference handling.
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