In object-oriented programming, what allows a class to inherit from another class?

In object-oriented programming, inheritance is a fundamental feature that allows one class to inherit properties and behaviors (methods) from another class. This mechanism enables a new class, often referred to as a derived or child class, to utilize and extend the functionalities of an existing class, termed a base or parent class. By implementing inheritance, a programmer can promote code reusability and create a hierarchical relationship between classes, where the child class can either inherit all attributes and methods of the parent class or override certain behaviors to introduce specialized functionality.

For instance, if you have a parent class called "Animal" with a method called "makeSound," a child class "Dog" can inherit from "Animal," automatically having the "makeSound" method while also being able to introduce its own unique behaviors. This allows the "Dog" class to use and enhance the characteristics defined in the "Animal" class without needing to rewrite that code.

The other concepts mentioned, such as encapsulation, polymorphism, and abstraction, serve different purposes in object-oriented programming. Encapsulation focuses on bundling data and methods that operate on that data within one unit, which helps in protecting internal state. Polymorphism allows objects of different classes to be treated as objects of a common superclass