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P O L Y M O R P H I S M

AN OBJECT-ORIENTED PILLAR

Many define Polymorphism as "many forms" but in Object-Oriented Language, POLYMORPHISM refers to dynamic-binding implementation of one method among many of the same kind.

Only the code of one distinctive method is executed at a time. The method executed is determined by an association of an object pointer at running time.

  • Polymorphic methods have the same names and use the same type of parameters and values returned. The code for each method is not the same.


  • Polymorphic methods are defined in distinctive classes, and the method is differentiated during execution, by virtue of an object reference.


  • Polymorphism is useful when implemented by an outside class.
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    Why POLYMORPHISM:

  • No need to overload methods.
  • Code efficiency is enhanced, as branching is made at execution time.

    • JAVA ways of implementing Polymorphism:

  • By the use of Inheritance, with methods defined in sibling classes all with a common parent.
  • By the use of Interface, with methods defined in classes which conform to a common interface.