noun

subclass

SUB-klas

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Subclass (noun) means a smaller class that sits within a larger, main class. Example: “Sports cars form a subclass of the wider category of cars.”

noun

A smaller class that sits within a larger, main class.

"Sports cars form a subclass of the wider category of cars."

"The report broke each category down into several subclasses for easier comparison."

"This particular model belongs to a rare subclass of the original design."

computing In object-oriented programming, a class that is derived from another class and inherits its properties and methods.

"The Dog class is a subclass of the Animal class."

"Each subclass can override methods it inherits from its parent."

"Developers created a new subclass to add extra behavior without changing the original class."

verb

computing In object-oriented programming, to create a new class that inherits from an existing class.

"You can subclass the base component to customise how it renders."

"She subclassed the standard widget to add a new button."

"Developers often subclass a framework's core classes rather than rewrite them from scratch."

How to use subclass

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA subclass is a smaller group nested inside a bigger category, or, in coding, a class built on top of another one.

When to use it

Outside computing, subclass is used mainly in fields with formal classification systems, such as taxonomy.

Memory tip

In programming, always check which class is the subclass and which is the superclass, since a subclass inherits from the superclass, not the other way round.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

superclass subset →

Common pairings

a subclass of create a subclass derive a subclass subclass a class

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