Python super(): Access Parent Class Methods & Attributes

The super() function allows a subclass to access methods and properties of its parent class. It’s useful for code reuse, method overriding, and working with multiple inheritance.

Example

class Parent:
    def greet(self):
        return "Hello from Parent"

class Child(Parent):
    def greet(self):
        return super().greet() + " and Child"

c = Child()
print(c.greet())

Output:

Hello from Parent and Child

Calls the greet() method from Parent using super().

Syntax

super().method_name(arguments)

• Returns → A proxy object that allows access to parent methods.

1. Using super() to Call Parent Methods

class Animal:
    def sound(self):
        return "Some sound"

class Dog(Animal):
    def sound(self):
        return super().sound() + " - Woof!"

d = Dog()
print(d.sound())  
# Output: Some sound - Woof!

super() calls the sound() method from Animal.

2. Using super() in __init__() to Inherit Attributes

class Person:
    def __init__(self, name):
        self.name = name

class Employee(Person):
    def __init__(self, name, role):
        super().__init__(name)  # Call Parent's __init__()
        self.role = role

e = Employee("Alice", "Manager")
print(e.name, e.role)  
# Output: Alice Manager

Uses super() to initialize the parent class attributes.

3. Calling super() with Multiple Inheritance

class A:
    def show(self):
        return "A"

class B(A):
    def show(self):
        return super().show() + " B"

class C(B):
    def show(self):
        return super().show() + " C"

c = C()
print(c.show())  
# Output: A B C

super() calls methods in the inheritance chain.

4. Using super() with Multiple Parent Classes

class Parent1:
    def greet(self):
        return "Hello from Parent1"

class Parent2:
    def greet(self):
        return "Hello from Parent2"

class Child(Parent1, Parent2):
    def greet(self):
        return super().greet()  # Calls Parent1's method (left-most parent)

c = Child()
print(c.greet())  
# Output: Hello from Parent1

Python follows the “Method Resolution Order” (MRO).

5. Getting MRO Order (super() Works in This Order)

class A: pass
class B(A): pass
class C(A): pass
class D(B, C): pass

print(D.mro())

Output:

[<class '__main__.D'>, <class '__main__.B'>, <class '__main__.C'>, <class '__main__.A'>, <class 'object'>]

Shows the method resolution order for super().

Key Notes

• ✔ Calls methods from the parent class.
• ✔ Works with method overriding.
• ✔ Supports multiple inheritance via MRO.
• ✔ Used in constructors (__init__()) to initialize parent attributes.

By using super(), you can reuse code, extend parent functionality, and manage multiple inheritance efficiently. 🚀