inheritance

A feature of object-oriented programming languages in which a sub type inherits methods and variables from its super type. Inheritance is most commonly used as a synonym for class inheritance {class!inheritance}, but interface inheritance is also a feature of some languages, including Java.

The concept of classes automatically containing the variables and methods defined in their supertypes. See also superclass, subclass.

The transmission of genes and phenotypes from generation to generation.

A mechanism for propagating access control information down through a tree of objects. In Microsoft Windows NT, an object (such as a file) inherits access control information from its parent object (such as a folder) only when the object is first created. In Windows XP Professional, objects inherit access control information not only when they are created, but also when the parent object's access control list changes.

What you get from your ancestors, genetically or otherwise. If you happen to be a "class", your ancestors are called base classes and your descendants are called derived classes. See "single inheritance" and "multiple inheritance".