MATLAB Object-Oriented Programming

Modify Inherited Properties

In this section...

“Superclass Property Modification” on page 12-20

“Private Local Property Takes Precedence in Method” on page 12-20

Superclass Property Modification

There are two separate conditions under which you can redefine superclass properties:

• The value of the superclass property Abstract attribute is true


• The values of the superclass property SetAccess and GetAccess attributes are
  private

If a superclass defines a property as abstract, the subclass must implement a concrete

version of this property or the subclass is also abstract. Superclasses define abstract

properties to create a consistent interface among subclasses.

If a superclass defines a property with private access, then only the superclass can access

this property. The subclass can implement a different property with the same name.

Private Local Property Takes Precedence in Method

When superclass and subclass define a property with the same name, methods that refer

to this property access the property of the class defining the method.

For example, if a subclass property has the same name as a superclass private property,

and a method of the superclass references the property name, MATLAB accesses the

property defined by the superclass.

Consider the following classes, Super and Sub:

classdef Super

properties (Access = private)

Prop = 2

end

methods

function p = superMethod(obj)

p = obj.Prop;

12 How to Build on Other Classes