Inheritance refers to the process by which characteristics, traits, or properties are passed down from one generation to the next, typically from parents to offspring. In a biological context, it relates to the transmission of genetic information through DNA. In legal terms, inheritance pertains to the distribution of an individual's assets and liabilities after their death according to their will or the laws of succession. In programming, inheritance is a fundamental concept in object-oriented design where a class can inherit properties and methods from another class.