{"id":6938,"date":"2018-02-01T06:54:15","date_gmt":"2018-02-01T01:24:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/data-flair.training\/blogs\/?p=6938"},"modified":"2025-07-15T17:08:59","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T11:38:59","slug":"python-multiple-inheritance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/data-flair.training\/blogs\/python-multiple-inheritance\/","title":{"rendered":"Python Multiple Inheritance – Python MRO (Method Resolution Order)"},"content":{"rendered":"

In our last article, we discussed\u00a0Python inheritance. Here, Python Multiple Inheritance tutorial, we will discuss what is Multiple inheritances in Python with its examples and uses.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, we will learn Python MRO (Method Resolution Order). At last, we will learn complications in Multiple Inheritance in Python Programming Language.<\/p>\n

So, let’s start Python Multiple Inheritance Tutorial.<\/p>\n

What is Python Multiple Inheritance?<\/h3>\n

As its name is indicative, multiple inheritance in python is when a class inherits from multiple classes.\u00a0One example of this would be that a child inherits personality traits from both parents.<\/p>\n

\"Python<\/a>

Python Multiple Inheritance – Example<\/p><\/div>\n

Python allows a class to inherit from many parents at once. You write class AmphibiousCar(Car, Boat): to mix driving and sailing skills. This is called multiple inheritance.<\/p>\n

Before we proceed to multiple inheritance syntaxes, let\u2019s see the python syntax.<\/p>\n

Use multiple inheritance with care. It can solve tricky problems\u2014like mixing a Logger class into many tools\u2014but too many parents can tangle code. Simple designs often work best.<\/p>\n

Python Multiple Inheritance Syntax<\/h3>\n

To make a class inherit from multiple python classes, we write the names of these classes inside the parentheses to the derived class while defining it.<\/p>\n

We separate these names with commas.<\/p>\n

The code for the previous example would be:<\/p>\n

>>> class Mother:\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 pass\r\n>>> class Father:\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 pass\r\n>>> class Child(Mother,Father):\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 pass\r\n>>> issubclass(Child,Mother) and issubclass(Child,Father)<\/pre>\n
Output<\/strong><\/p>\n
True<\/div>\n
Python MRO (Method Resolution Order)<\/h3>\n
When we search for an attribute in a class that is involved in python multiple inheritance, an order is followed.<\/p>\n
First, it is searched in the current class. If not found, the search moves to parent classes. This is left-to-right, depth-first.<\/p>\n
So, in the above class, the search order will be – Child, Mother, Father, Object.<\/p>\n
This order is called linearization of class Child, and the set of rules applied are called MRO (Method Resolution Order).<\/p>\n
To get the MRO of a class, you can use either the __mro__ attribute or the mro() method.<\/p>\n
>>> Child.__mro__<\/pre>\n
Output<\/strong><\/p>\n
(<class ‘__main__.Child’>, <class ‘__main__.Mother’>, <class ‘__main__.Father’>, <class ‘object’>)<\/div>\n
The __mro__ attribute returns a tuple, but the mro() method returns a python list.<\/p>\n
>>> Child.mro()<\/pre>\n
Output<\/strong><\/p>\n
[<class ‘__main__.Child’>, <class ‘__main__.Mother’>, <class ‘__main__.Father’>, <class ‘object’>]<\/div>\n
To take a more complex example that also demonstrates depth-first search, we take 6 classes.<\/p>\n
>>> class X:pass\r\n>>> class Y: pass\r\n>>> class Z:pass\r\n>>> class A(X,Y):pass\r\n>>> class B(Y,Z):pass\r\n>>> class M(B,A,Z):pass<\/pre>\n
>>> M.mro()<\/pre>\n
Output<\/strong><\/p>\n
[<class ‘__main__.M’>, <class ‘__main__.B’>, <class ‘__main__.A’>, <class ‘__main__.X’>, <class ‘__main__.Y’>, <class ‘__main__.Z’>, <class ‘object’>]<\/div>\n
We can represent this with the following diagram.<\/p>\n
\"Python<\/a>
Python Multiple Inheritance – Method Resolution order (MRO)<\/p><\/div>\n
First, the interpreter scans M. Then, it scans B, and then A-B first because of the order of arguments at the time of inheritance.<\/p>\n
It scans Z later, after X and Y. The order is- X, then Y, then Z. This is because due to depth-first search, X comes first to A.<\/p>\n
Finally, it scans the class object. Hence, the order.<\/p>\n
Complications in Python Multiple Inheritance<\/h3>\n
What happens when the classes we inherit from all have a common attribute? Whose value does the child class take, then?<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s take three classes A, B, and C.<\/p>\n
>>> class A:\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 id=1\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0  \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\r\n>>> class B:\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 id=2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\r\n>>> class C:\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 id=3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\r\n>>> class M(A,C,B):\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 pass\r\n>>> M.id<\/pre>\n
Output<\/strong><\/p>\n
1<\/div>\n
>>> M.id<\/pre>\n
Output<\/strong><\/p>\n
1<\/div>\n
>>> class M(C,B,A):\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 pass\r\n>>> M.id<\/pre>\n
Output<\/strong><\/p>\n
3<\/div>\n
Like we see here, the class named first in the inheritance passes its value to the child class for the common attribute.<\/p>\n
Earlier, it was A, so, M had id=1. Then, when we changed it to C, M got id=3. This is the same with Python methods\/functions of the class.<\/p>\n
>>> class A:\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 def sayhi():\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 print(\"A\") \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\r\n>>> class B:\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 def sayhi():\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 print(\"B\")\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\r\n>>> class M(A,B):\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 pass\r\n>>> M.sayhi()<\/pre>\n
Output<\/strong><\/p>\n
A<\/div>\n
So, this was all about Python Multiple Inheritance Tutorial. Hope you like our explanation on Python MRO.<\/p>\n
Python Interview Questions on Multiple Inheritance<\/h3>\n
1. How do you achieve multiple inheritance in Python?<\/p>\n
2. When should we use multiple inheritance in Python?<\/p>\n
3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of Python multiple inheritance?<\/p>\n
4. What is Python multiple inheritance? Explain with an example.<\/p>\n
5. How does Python multiple inheritance work?<\/p>\n
Conclusion<\/h3>\n
Hence, in this tutorial, we discussed python multiple inheritances and its syntax and examples.<\/p>\n
We also talked about Method Resolution Order(MRO) and last we discuss, complications in multiple inheritances in python.<\/p>\n
Keep going with us in Python and give us your valuable feedbacks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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