Multiple inheritance and Multiple Interfaces

[aakash bhatt]

Hi all,
When in Java we can multiple interface why not multiple inheritance.
What disadvantages has taken off by removing multiple inheritance and adding
of multiple interfaces.
Regards,
aakash

[Greg Charles]

One big problem with mulitple inheritance is what to do when both base classes implement a particular method differently. If the subclass doesn't override this method, what code should be called? This situation often arises when both base classes themselves extend from a common ancestor. In this case, a class hierarchy diagram would show a diamond pattern of classes.
This conflict doesn't exist for interfaces, because they don't provide implementations. It is perfectly acceptable for a class to implement two interfaces that define the same method. However, if the interfaces defined methods with identical signatures, but differing return types, there would still be a conflict.
[ February 20, 2003: Message edited by: Greg Charles ]