Super keyword
The super construct accesses or invokes inherited methods, constructors, or attributes according to a language’s inheritance rules.
The Well-Grounded Rubyist, Fourth Edition
super is a Ruby keyword that invokes the next implementation of the current method in the method-lookup path, preserving the current call's arguments and block when no argument syntax is supplied.
- How it is used
- Uses `super` to wrap an existing method while retaining the next implementation’s behavior.
- How deep it goes
- Explains lookup-path traversal and argument forwarding, contrasting bare `super` with `super()`.
- Examples
- Uses a class-and-module `report`, a bicycle initializer, missing-method handlers, and an object-specific `String#gsub!` wrapper.
- What you can do after
- Evaluate/understand which method an override calls next and when its original arguments and block pass through.
Read how The Well-Grounded Rubyist, Fourth Edition explains super keyword →
The Well-Grounded Python Developer: How the pros use Python and Flask
super is a Python mechanism that provides access to methods and other attributes defined in a class's parent according to the method resolution order.
- How it is used
- Delegates subclass initialization to parent constructors within shape hierarchies.
- How deep it goes
- Explains parent-constructor delegation through Square and Circle examples, without detailing broader method-resolution behavior.
- Examples
- Uses Square, Rectangle, Shape, and Circle classes with delegated dimensions and shape-specific drawing.
- What you can do after
- Apply it via Python to reuse parent initialization while customizing subclass-specific parameters and behavior.
Kotlin in Action, 2E
- How it is used
- Resolves inherited interface implementations and initializes superclass constructors from Kotlin subclasses.
- How deep it goes
- Explains qualified interface calls, constructor delegation paths, and Java syntax differences without descending into compiler-generated bytecode.
- Examples
- Uses Button with Clickable and Focusable, plus MyDownloader delegating to String and URI superclass constructors.
- What you can do after
- Apply it via Kotlin syntax to select inherited interface behavior and delegate subclass construction to superclass constructors.
Essential TypeScript 5, Third Edition
The super keyword accesses a class's superclass constructor, properties, or methods.
- How it is used
- Connects subclass constructors and methods to inherited implementation while extending JavaScript and TypeScript classes.
- How deep it goes
- Explains constructor ordering, inherited initialization, method reuse, and overriding, but does not detail prototype internals.
- Examples
- Uses Product and TaxedProduct classes plus Person and Employee classes to demonstrate initialization and inherited behavior.
- What you can do after
- Build subclass constructors and overridden methods that reuse superclass initialization and behavior.
Read how Essential TypeScript 5, Third Edition explains super keyword →
Get Programming with JavaScript Next: New features of ECMAScript 2015, 2016, and beyond
A JavaScript keyword used in a subclass to invoke superclass constructors or access superclass methods and properties.
- How it is used
- Uses super to initialize subclass instances and reuse superclass behavior.
- How deep it goes
- Explains constructor ordering, prototype method access, and why instance class properties are unavailable through super.
- Examples
- Shows TeamStore passing a URL to DataStore, ProductStore extending fetch, and binding an overridable method.
- What you can do after
- Apply super to initialize subclasses before using this and extend superclass methods without discarding their behavior.
Python How-To
- How it is used
- Extends overridden subclass behavior by calling a superclass method or constructor.
- How deep it goes
- Explains super() as a proxy and demonstrates method and constructor calls; limits its MRO discussion to single inheritance.
- Examples
- Uses a Supervisor logout override and a PokerOrder int subclass that maps face cards for sorting.
- What you can do after
- Apply super() to reuse a superclass implementation while customizing a subclass method or constructor.
Related concepts
- superclassuses · A superclass is a class from which another class inherits members, structure, state, or behavior.
- constructor methoduses · A constructor is a type-associated operation or callable that creates or initializes an instance and establishes its initial state.
- method_missingused by · method_missing is a Ruby method invoked as a last resort when an object receives a message for which no matching method is found.
- method resolution orderuses · Method resolution order is the ordered sequence in which a programming language searches a class and its ancestors for methods or attributes.
- method lookupuses · Method lookup is the process of determining which implementation executes for a method invocation based on the receiver and applicable definitions.
- proxyproduces · A proxy is an intermediary object or component that represents another object or system and mediates interactions with it.
These guides are generated from the text of Manning books by Manning's knowledge graph and link to the sections they draw on. The full books are available on liveBook and at manning.com.





