Java Persistence API

Inheritance

Entity classes can extend other entity classes

Entity Inheritance Example

Non-entity superclasses having the @MappedSuperclass annotation will have their persistent state stored

@MappedSuperclass Inheritance Example

Non-entity superclasses should be used to inherit behavior only, as their state is not persisted

Non-Entity Inheritance Example

  public class Person { // Not queryable, not persisted!
    private String firstName, lastName;
    ...
    // Getters/Setters
    ...
  }

  @Entity
  public class Employee extends Person { // Queryable, but firstName and lastName not persisted!
    ...
  }