subklasse

Subklasse is a term used in several fields to denote a secondary or lower-level division within a larger class. It expresses the idea of subdivision and specialization, and the exact meaning can vary depending on the domain, language, and classification system in use.

In biology, the term is often encountered as Unterklasse (the German equivalent of subclass) and denotes a taxonomic rank positioned between class and order in some classification schemes. Its use is not universal and has changed over time as taxonomic concepts have evolved. When employed, the subclass groups together organisms within a class that share additional common features beyond those defining the class as a whole. Different phyla and historical classifications may treat this rank differently or omit it altogether.

In computer science, subclass (often written as Subklasse in German discussions) refers to a class that inherits from another class, called its superclass or parent class. A subclass inherits fields and methods from its superclass and can add new features or override existing behavior. This enables specialization and code reuse through inheritance. Subclasses participate in polymorphism, allowing code to operate on objects of a superclass type while executing subclass-specific implementations. Programming languages vary in how inheritance is expressed (for example, extends, inherits, or colon) and in whether multiple inheritance is supported.

Etymology and usage: Subklasse combines sub- with class. In German and Dutch, Subklasse is common in discussions of object-oriented programming, while in taxonomy the corresponding term is more often Unterklasse in German, or subclass in English. The term’s precise meaning depends on the discipline and context.