---
title: "Inheritance"
content_type: tutorial
url: "https://learn.unity.com/tutorial/inheritance?language=en"
language: en
difficulty: intermediate
duration_minutes: 5
unity_version:
  - "2019.3"
  - "2019.2"
  - "2019.1"
  - "2018.4"
  - "2018.3"
  - "2018.2"
  - "2018.1"
  - "2017.4"
  - "2017.3"
  - "2017.2"
  - "2017.1"
  - "5.x"
  - "4.x"
supported_unity_versions:
  - name: "2019.3"
    url: "https://learn.unity.com/tutorial/inheritance.md?language=en&version=2019.3"
  - name: "2019.2"
    url: "https://learn.unity.com/tutorial/inheritance.md?language=en&version=2019.2"
  - name: "2019.1"
    url: "https://learn.unity.com/tutorial/inheritance.md?language=en&version=2019.1"
  - name: "2018.4"
    url: "https://learn.unity.com/tutorial/inheritance.md?language=en&version=2018.4"
  - name: "2018.3"
    url: "https://learn.unity.com/tutorial/inheritance.md?language=en&version=2018.3"
  - name: "2018.2"
    url: "https://learn.unity.com/tutorial/inheritance.md?language=en&version=2018.2"
  - name: "2018.1"
    url: "https://learn.unity.com/tutorial/inheritance.md?language=en&version=2018.1"
  - name: "2017.4"
    url: "https://learn.unity.com/tutorial/inheritance.md?language=en&version=2017.4"
  - name: "2017.3"
    url: "https://learn.unity.com/tutorial/inheritance.md?language=en&version=2017.3"
  - name: "2017.2"
    url: "https://learn.unity.com/tutorial/inheritance.md?language=en&version=2017.2"
  - name: "2017.1"
    url: "https://learn.unity.com/tutorial/inheritance.md?language=en&version=2017.1"
  - name: "5.x"
    url: "https://learn.unity.com/tutorial/inheritance.md?language=en&version=5.x"
  - name: "4.x"
    url: "https://learn.unity.com/tutorial/inheritance.md?language=en&version=4.x"
last_updated: "2026-08-04T14:23:03.000Z"
---

# Inheritance

Explore how inheritance lets you reuse code and model strong relationships between related classes.

How to use inheritance to reuse code and build a strong relationship between related classes.

## Inheritance

[Video](https://connect-mediagw.unity.com/h1/20220110/videos/27468552-586c-4caa-ac18-43aa3276051c_U_Intermediate_6_Inheritance.mp4) ([Transcript (en)](https://connect-mediagw.unity.com/h1/20220110/ecd2e6b5-f19f-46ab-bb7d-d0db60ae96bc_I_06_Inheritance_V4.0.vtt))

**Fruit Class**

```csharp
using UnityEngine;
using System.Collections;

//This is the base class which is
//also known as the Parent class.
public class Fruit 
{
    public string color;

    //This is the first constructor for the Fruit class
    //and is not inherited by any derived classes.
    public Fruit()
    {
        color = "orange";
        Debug.Log("1st Fruit Constructor Called");
    }

    //This is the second constructor for the Fruit class
    //and is not inherited by any derived classes.
    public Fruit(string newColor)
    {
        color = newColor;
        Debug.Log("2nd Fruit Constructor Called");
    }

    public void Chop()
    {
        Debug.Log("The " + color + " fruit has been chopped.");        
    }

    public void SayHello()
    {
        Debug.Log("Hello, I am a fruit.");
    }
}
```

**Apple Class**

```csharp
using UnityEngine;
using System.Collections;

//This is the derived class whis is
//also know as the Child class.
public class Apple : Fruit 
{
    //This is the first constructor for the Apple class.
    //It calls the parent constructor immediately, even
    //before it runs.
    public Apple()
    {
        //Notice how Apple has access to the public variable
        //color, which is a part of the parent Fruit class.
        color = "red";
        Debug.Log("1st Apple Constructor Called");
    }

    //This is the second constructor for the Apple class.
    //It specifies which parent constructor will be called
    //using the "base" keyword.
    public Apple(string newColor) : base(newColor)
    {
        //Notice how this constructor doesn't set the color
        //since the base constructor sets the color that
        //is passed as an argument.
        Debug.Log("2nd Apple Constructor Called");
    }
}
```

**FruitSalad Class**

```csharp
using UnityEngine;
using System.Collections;

public class FruitSalad : MonoBehaviour 
{
    void Start () 
    {
        //Let's illustrate inheritance with the 
        //default constructors.
        Debug.Log("Creating the fruit");
        Fruit myFruit = new Fruit();
        Debug.Log("Creating the apple");
        Apple myApple = new Apple();

        //Call the methods of the Fruit class.
        myFruit.SayHello();
        myFruit.Chop();

        //Call the methods of the Apple class.
        //Notice how class Apple has access to all
        //of the public methods of class Fruit.
        myApple.SayHello();
        myApple.Chop();

        //Now let's illustrate inheritance with the 
        //constructors that read in a string.
        Debug.Log("Creating the fruit");
        myFruit = new Fruit("yellow");
        Debug.Log("Creating the apple");
        myApple = new Apple("green");

        //Call the methods of the Fruit class.
        myFruit.SayHello();
        myFruit.Chop();

        //Call the methods of the Apple class.
        //Notice how class Apple has access to all
        //of the public methods of class Fruit.
        myApple.SayHello();
        myApple.Chop();
    }
}
```