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The term polymorphism can be defined as “having many forms.” A polymorphic reference is a reference variable that can refer to different types of objects at different points in time. The specific method invoked through a polymorphic reference can change from one invocation to the next. |
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Polymorphism in programming is a concept |
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that's a bit like having a universal remote control. Just as this one remote can interact with your TV, sound system, and DVD player in different ways, polymorphism allows a single interface to |
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be used with different underlying forms (data types). Here's how it works in simple terms:
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Polymorphism
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Compile-time (or Static) Polymorphism: This is achieved through method overloading, where multiple methods share the same name but have different parameters. The correct method to invoke is determined at compile-time based on the method signature.
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In summary, polymorphism in programming allows methods to do different things based on the object they are acting upon, much like a universal remote control can operate different devices in ways specific to each device. This leads to more flexible and easily maintainable code. |
Polymorphism is a fundamental concept in programming, particularly within the paradigm of object-oriented programming (OOP). It describes the ability of different objects to be accessed through the same interface, allowing for different underlying forms (data types) to be manipulated in a uniform manner.
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Ad-hoc Polymorphism: This is achieved through function overloading or operator overloading.
Parametric Polymorphism: This allows a function or a data type to be written generically, so it can handle values identically without depending on their type. This is often used in generic programming.
Subtype Polymorphism (or Inclusion Polymorphism): This is the form most commonly referred to as "polymorphism" in OOP. It allows a function to use objects of different types at different times, depending on the type of the object it is referencing at that time.
In Object-Oriented Programming:
Method Overriding: In OOP, polymorphism often involves a superclass and one or more subclasses. A method in a subclass can override a method in the superclass. This means that the version of the method that gets invoked is determined by the object's runtime type.
Interface Implementation: An interface defines a set of methods that can be implemented by any class, from any inheritance tree. A class that implements an interface promises to provide the behavior published by that interface.
Practical Example:
Consider a simple class hierarchy where a superclass Shape has a method draw(). Subclasses like Circle, Square, and Triangle each implement draw() differently. If you have a list of Shape objects, you can iterate over them and call draw() on each one, and the correct version of the method is called for each object, whether it's a Circle, Square, or Triangle.
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Code Reusability: You can write code that works on the superclass type, but it will work with any subclass type, providing they follow the expected contract (like method names and parameters).
Code Maintainability: Polymorphism promotes cleaner, more intuitive, and more maintainable code. You can add new subclasses with little or no modification to existing code that uses the superclass.
Flexibility: Polymorphism allows for code that is more flexible and can handle a range of inputs, reducing the complexity of conditional statements.
Abstraction: It allows for abstract design, where you can define a common interface class for a group of related classes.
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