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Python Create a Subclass

Last Updated : May 03, 2025

Python allows you to create subclasses that inherit properties and methods from a parent (or base) class. In this chapter, we will learn how to create and use subclasses in Python with the help of examples.

Creating a Subclass

To create a subclass, define a new class and pass the name of the parent class in parentheses.

Example

In this example, we define a Person class and a subclass Student that inherits from it.

# Defining the parent class
class Person:
    def __init__(self, name):
        self.name = name

    def introduce(self):
        print(f"My name is {self.name}")

# Creating a subclass
class Student(Person):
    def study(self):
        print(f"{self.name} is studying")

# Creating an object of the subclass
student1 = Student("Kavya")

# Using methods from both parent and subclass
student1.introduce()
student1.study()

The output of the above code would be:

My name is Kavya
Kavya is studying

Using the super() Function

The super() function allows you to call the constructor or methods of the parent class from the subclass.

Example

In this example, we use super() to initialize the parent class from the subclass constructor.

# Defining the parent class
class Person:
    def __init__(self, name):
        self.name = name

# Creating a subclass and calling parent constructor
class Student(Person):
    def __init__(self, name, roll_no):
        super().__init__(name)
        self.roll_no = roll_no

    def display(self):
        print(f"Name: {self.name}, Roll No: {self.roll_no}")

# Creating object of subclass
student2 = Student("Laksh", 101)
student2.display()

The output of the above code would be:

Name: Laksh, Roll No: 101

Overriding Methods in a Subclass

A subclass can override the methods of the parent class to change or extend its behavior.

Example

In this example, the introduce() method is overridden in the Student subclass.

# Defining the parent class
class Person:
    def introduce(self):
        print("Hello, I am a person.")

# Subclass overriding a method
class Student(Person):
    def introduce(self):
        print("Hello, I am a student.")

# Creating objects
person1 = Person()
student3 = Student()

# Calling introduce method
person1.introduce()
student3.introduce()

The output of the above code would be:

Hello, I am a person.
Hello, I am a student.

Check Inheritance Using issubclass() and isinstance()

Use issubclass() to check if a class is a subclass of another class, and isinstance() to check if an object is an instance of a specific class.

Example

In this example, we check subclass and instance relationships.

class Person:
    pass

class Student(Person):
    pass

# Checking subclass
print(issubclass(Student, Person))  # True

# Checking instance
s = Student()
print(isinstance(s, Student))       # True
print(isinstance(s, Person))        # True

The output of the above code would be:

True
True
True

Exercise

Select the correct option to complete each statement about creating subclasses in Python.

1. To create a subclass in Python, use the syntax class SubClassName(___). --Select-- ParentClassName object self
2. The super() function is typically used to ___. --Select-- call methods from the parent class create a new class delete a subclass
3. If class Dog is a subclass of Animal, then Dog ___ the properties and methods of Animal. --Select-- inherits deletes hides