Can a normal Class implement multiple interfaces?

Question

I know that multiple inheritances between Interfaces is possible, e.g.:

public interface C extends A,B {...} //Where A, B and C are Interfaces

But is it possible to have a regular Class inherit from multiple Interfaces like this:

public class A implements C,D {...} //Where A is a Class and C and D are interfaces

Answer 1

A Java class can only extend one parent class. Multiple inheritance (extends) is not allowed. Interfaces are not classes, however, and a class can implement more than one interface.

The parent interfaces are declared in a comma-separated list, after the implements keyword.

In conclusion, yes, it is possible to do:

public class A implements C,D {...}

Answer 2

In a word - yes. Actually, many classes in the JDK implement multiple interfaces. E.g., ArrayList implements List, RandomAccess, Cloneable, and Serializable.

Answer 3

public class A implements C,D {...} valid

this is the way to implement multiple inheritence in java

Answer 4

Yes, a class can implement multiple interfaces. Each interface provides contract for some sort of behavior. I am attaching a detailed class diagram and shell interfaces and classes.

Ceremonial example:

public interface Mammal {
    void move();
    boolean possessIntelligence();
}

public interface Animal extends Mammal {
    void liveInJungle();
}

public interface Human extends Mammal, TwoLeggedMammal, Omnivore, Hunter {
    void liveInCivilization();
}

public interface Carnivore {
    void eatMeat();
}

public interface Herbivore {
    void eatPlant();
}

public interface Omnivore extends Carnivore, Herbivore {
    void eatBothMeatAndPlant();
}

public interface FourLeggedMammal {
    void moveWithFourLegs();
}

public interface TwoLeggedMammal {
    void moveWithTwoLegs();
}

public interface Hunter {
    void huntForFood();
}

public class Kangaroo implements Animal, Herbivore, TwoLeggedMammal {
    @Override
    public void liveInJungle() {
        System.out.println("I live in Outback country");
    }

    @Override
    public void move() {
        moveWithTwoLegs();
    }

    @Override
    public void moveWithTwoLegs() {
        System.out.println("I like to jump");
    }

    @Override
    public void eat() {
        eatPlant();
    }

    @Override
    public void eatPlant() {
        System.out.println("I like this grass");
    }

    @Override
    public boolean possessIntelligence() {
        return false;
    }
}

public class Lion implements Animal, FourLeggedMammal, Hunter, Carnivore {
    @Override
    public void liveInJungle() {
        System.out.println("I am king of the jungle!");

    }

    @Override
    public void move() {
        moveWithFourLegs();
    }

    @Override
    public void moveWithFourLegs() {
        System.out.println("I like to run sometimes.");
    }

    @Override
    public void eat() {
        eatMeat();
    }

    @Override
    public void eatMeat() {
        System.out.println("I like deer meat");
    }

    @Override
    public boolean possessIntelligence() {
        return false;
    }

    @Override
    public void huntForFood() {
        System.out.println("My females hunt often");
    }
}

public class Teacher implements Human {
    @Override
    public void liveInCivilization() {
        System.out.println("I live in an apartment");
    }

    @Override
    public void moveWithTwoLegs() {
        System.out.println("I wear shoes and walk with two legs one in front of the other");
    }

    @Override
    public void move() {
        moveWithTwoLegs();
    }

    @Override
    public boolean possessIntelligence() {
        return true;
    }

    @Override
    public void huntForFood() {
        System.out.println("My ancestors used to but now I mostly rely on cattle");
    }

    @Override
    public void eat() {
        eatBothMeatAndPlant();
    }

    @Override
    public void eatBothMeatAndPlant() {
        eatPlant();
        eatMeat();
    }

    @Override
    public void eatMeat() {
        System.out.println("I like this bacon");
    }

    @Override
    public void eatPlant() {
        System.out.println("I like this broccoli");
    }
}

Answer 5

Of course... Almost all classes implements several interfaces. On any page of java documentation on Oracle you have a subsection named "All implemented interfaces".

Here an example of the Date class.

Answer 6

It is true that a java class can implement multiple interfaces at the same time, but there is a catch here. If in a class, you are trying to implement two java interfaces, which contains methods with same signature but diffrent return type, in that case you will get compilation error.

interface One
{
    int m1();
}
interface Two
{
    float m1();
}
public class MyClass implements One, Two{
    int m1() {}
    float m1() {}
    public static void main(String... args) {

    }
}

output :

prog.java:14: error: method m1() is already defined in class MyClass
    public float m1() {}
                 ^
prog.java:11: error: MyClass is not abstract and does not override abstract method m1() in Two
public class MyClass implements One, Two{
       ^
prog.java:13: error: m1() in MyClass cannot implement m1() in Two
    public int m1() {}
               ^
  return type int is not compatible with float
3 errors

Answer 7

Yes, it is possible. This is the catch: java does not support multiple inheritance, i.e. class cannot extend more than one class. However class can implement multiple interfaces.

Answer 8

An interface can extend other interfaces. Also an interface cannot implement any other interface. When it comes to a class, it can extend one other class and implement any number of interfaces.

class A extends B implements C,D{...}