What is the primary reason to utilize inheritance in object-oriented programming?

Utilizing inheritance in object-oriented programming primarily facilitates an "is-a" relationship. This concept is central to understanding how objects relate to each other in a hierarchy. When a class inherits from another class, it signifies that the derived class (subclass) is a specialized version of the base class (superclass). For example, if you have a base class called "Vehicle" and a derived class called "Car," it expresses that a Car is a type of Vehicle. This relationship not only helps in organizing classes logically but also allows for polymorphism, where objects of the derived class can be treated as objects of the base class.

Inheritance supports code reusability; by defining common attributes and behaviors in a superclass, derived classes can inherit those properties without redefining them. While avoiding code duplication is also a benefit of inheritance, it directly stems from establishing this "is-a" relationship. The connection between classes is foundational to the principles of inheritance, making it the primary reason for its use in object-oriented programming.

Other options, while related to programming and class design, do not capture the essence of inheritance in the same way. Code execution speed (the first choice) might not be significantly impacted by inheritance, while enhancing data security and avoiding code duplication