Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A penguin is a specific class that is derived from (inherits from) another class. It may have its own unique properties and behaviors in addition to those inherited from its superclass.
Related terms
Method Overriding: Method overriding occurs when a subclass provides its own implementation for a method that is already defined in its superclass. In our group project analogy, it's like if the Penguin member had to modify or customize their assigned task slightly while still fulfilling the requirements of the overall project.
Encapsulation refers to bundling data (variables) and methods into a single unit (class). For penguins, it could be encapsulating information such as height, weight, and swimming abilities within the Penguin class.
Abstract Class: An abstract class is a class that cannot be instantiated but can be used as a blueprint for other classes. Think of it like having an outline or template for your group project before any actual work starts.