Polymorphism

Polymorphism

Polymorphism is the object-oriented principle that allows objects of different types to be treated through a common type while each object provides its own behavior.

Common Interface

A common interface is a shared contract that allows multiple object types to be used in a consistent way.

Dynamic Dispatch

Dynamic dispatch is the process of selecting the correct method implementation at runtime based on the actual type of an object.

Runtime Polymorphism

Runtime polymorphism is polymorphism in which the method that executes is determined while the program is running.

Compile-Time Polymorphism

Compile-time polymorphism is polymorphism that is resolved by the compiler, typically through method overloading.

Method Overloading

Method overloading is the practice of defining multiple methods with the same name but different parameter lists.

Method Overriding

Method overriding is the practice of providing a new implementation of an inherited method in a derived class.

Virtual Method

A virtual method is a method in a base class that can be overridden by derived classes.

Override Method

An override method is a method in a derived class that replaces the implementation of a virtual or abstract method from its base class.

Base Method Invocation

Base method invocation is the act of calling a base class implementation from an overriding method by using the base keyword.

Substitutability

Substitutability is the ability to use an object of a derived type wherever an object of its base type is expected.

Polymorphic Reference

A polymorphic reference is a variable whose declared type is a base class or interface but whose actual object is a derived type.

Actual Type

The actual type is the real type of the object that exists in memory during program execution.

Declared Type

The declared type is the type specified when a variable, parameter, or field is declared.

Late Binding

Late binding is the process of determining which overridden method to execute at runtime.

Early Binding

Early binding is the process of resolving a method call during compilation.

Polymorphic Behavior

Polymorphic behavior is the ability of different objects to respond differently to the same method call.

Liskov Substitution Principle (LSP)

The Liskov Substitution Principle (LSP) states that objects of a derived class should be usable anywhere objects of the base class are expected without altering the correctness of the program.

Interface-Based Polymorphism

Interface-based polymorphism is polymorphism achieved by programming against an interface instead of a specific class.

Extensibility

Extensibility is the ability to add new types or behaviors to a system with little or no modification to existing code, often through polymorphism.