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Polymorphism

Definition

Polymorphism refers to the ability of objects to take on multiple forms or have multiple types. In programming, it allows different objects to be treated as instances of a common superclass, enabling flexibility and extensibility.

Analogy

Imagine going to a pet store where there are different animals - dogs, cats, birds, etc. Although they are all animals with their own unique characteristics, you can interact with them using common actions like feeding or playing. Similarly, polymorphism allows us to treat different objects as if they belong to the same general category while still maintaining their individuality.

Related terms

Method Overriding: Method overriding occurs when a subclass provides its own implementation for a method that is already defined in its superclass. This allows for customization of behavior specific to each subclass.

Dynamic Binding: Dynamic binding refers to determining which implementation of an overridden method should be called at runtime based on the actual type of the object rather than its declared type. It allows for flexibility in method invocation.

Interface: An interface is a collection of abstract methods that define a contract for classes to implement. It enables polymorphism by providing a common set of methods that different classes can implement.