super() in Python

In Python,super() is primarily used in the context of class inheritance to call methods from a parent class. It’s especially useful in multiple inheritance scenarios. According to Stack Overflow,multiple inheritance is where super() truly shines [[1]]. While it can be used with single inheritance, it might introduce unneeded overhead.

consider a scenario where you have a child class that overrides a method from its parent class. Using super() allows you to call the parent class’s implementation of that method before or after adding the child class’s specific logic. This ensures that the parent class’s functionality is preserved and extended, rather than entirely replaced.

“Multiple inheritance is the only case where super() is of any use.” [[1]]

super() in Java

In Java, super() serves a similar purpose but with some syntactic differences.It’s used to call a parent class’s constructor, access hidden fields, or invoke overridden methods [[3]]. A common use case is calling the parent’s constructor to initialize inherited fields before the child class adds its own initialization logic [[2]].

When a subclass constructor is called, it implicitly calls the superclass‘s constructor. If the superclass has multiple constructors, super() can be used to explicitly specify which constructor to call, passing the appropriate arguments. This is essential for ensuring that the parent class is properly initialized before the child class.