Define the concept of inheritance in object-oriented programming.

Inheritance in object-oriented programming is a mechanism where one class acquires the properties and behaviours of another class.

In more detail, inheritance is a fundamental principle of object-oriented programming (OOP) that allows the creation of hierarchical classifications. It is a way of creating a new class using classes that have already been defined. The newly formed class is a 'derived' or 'child' class, and the existing class is a 'base' or 'parent' class. The derived class inherits all the features of the base class and can also add new features or override the existing ones.

Inheritance promotes the concept of reusability and reduces code redundancy. It allows developers to reuse the code of the existing class, saving time and effort. This also leads to a more efficient and maintainable code as changes made to the base class will be reflected in the derived classes.

There are different types of inheritance in OOP, including single, multiple, multilevel, hierarchical, and hybrid inheritance. Single inheritance is when a class inherits from a single base class. Multiple inheritance is when a class can inherit from more than one base class. Multilevel inheritance is when a derived class is formed from another derived class. Hierarchical inheritance is when one class serves as a base class for more than one derived class. Hybrid inheritance is a combination of more than one type of inheritance.

Inheritance is implemented in different programming languages in various ways. In Java and C#, for example, inheritance is achieved using the 'extends' and 'inherits' keywords respectively. In Python, the base class is listed in parentheses in the class definition of the derived class.

In conclusion, inheritance is a powerful feature of OOP that promotes code reusability and a logical, hierarchical classification of classes. It is a fundamental concept that every computer science student should understand and be able to implement.

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