extends
is for extending a class.
implements
is for implementing an interface
The difference between an interface and a regular class is that in an interface you can not implement any of the declared methods. Only the class that “implements” the interface can implement the methods. The C++ equivalent of an interface would be an abstract class (not EXACTLY the same but pretty much).
Also java doesn’t support multiple inheritance for classes. This is solved by using multiple interfaces.
public interface ExampleInterface { public void doAction(); public String doThis(int number); } public class sub implements ExampleInterface { public void doAction() { //specify what must happen } public String doThis(int number) { //specfiy what must happen } }
now extending a class
public class SuperClass { public int getNb() { //specify what must happen return 1; } public int getNb2() { //specify what must happen return 2; } } public class SubClass extends SuperClass { //you can override the implementation @Override public int getNb2() { return 3; } }
in this case
Subclass s = new SubClass(); s.getNb(); //returns 1 s.getNb2(); //returns 3 SuperClass sup = new SuperClass(); sup.getNb(); //returns 1 sup.getNb2(); //returns 2
Also, note that an @Override
tag is not required for implementing an interface, as there is nothing in the original interface methods to be overridden
I suggest you do some more research on dynamic binding, polymorphism and in general inheritance in Object-oriented programming