Polymorphism and Dynamic Binding

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Polymorphism and Dynamic Binding

Published by: Dikshya

Published date: 27 Jun 2023

Polymorphism and Dynamic Binding

- Polymorphism: Polymorphism is a concept in object-oriented programming that allows objects of different classes to be treated as objects of a common superclass or interface. It enables the use of a single interface to represent various types of objects.

There are two types of polymorphism:

a. Compile-time Polymorphism (Static Polymorphism): Also known as method overloading, compile-time polymorphism occurs when multiple methods with the same name but different parameters are defined in a class. The appropriate method is selected based on the arguments provided at compile-time.

b. Runtime Polymorphism (Dynamic Polymorphism): Runtime polymorphism occurs when a method declared in the superclass is overridden by one or more subclasses. The appropriate method to execute is determined at runtime based on the actual type of the object.

Runtime polymorphism is achieved through method overriding, where a subclass provides its own implementation of a method defined in the superclass. This allows different objects of the same superclass to exhibit different behaviors based on their specific class implementations.

Polymorphism is a powerful feature that promotes code flexibility, modularity, and extensibility. It allows for code reuse, simplifies code maintenance, and enables the design of more generic and flexible systems.

 

- Dynamic Binding: Dynamic binding, also known as late binding or dynamic dispatch, is the process by which the actual method implementation to be executed is determined at runtime, based on the object's actual type rather than its declared type.

In languages that support dynamic binding, the decision of which method implementation to execute is deferred until runtime. When a method is called on an object, the program determines the object's actual class and then looks for the appropriate method implementation in that class or its hierarchy.

Dynamic binding is closely related to polymorphism. When a method is overridden in a subclass, dynamic binding ensures that the correct version of the method is invoked, based on the actual type of the object at runtime. This allows for the flexibility of substituting objects of different types while still invoking the appropriate behavior based on the specific object's class.

Dynamic binding is a key mechanism that enables the polymorphic behavior of objects in object-oriented programming. It allows for loose coupling, runtime flexibility, and enables more generic and adaptable code.

   Overall, polymorphism and dynamic binding are closely related concepts in OOP. Polymorphism provides the ability to treat objects of different classes uniformly, while dynamic binding determines the appropriate method implementation to execute at runtime, based on the actual type of the object. Together, they enhance code flexibility, extensibility, and modularity in object-oriented systems.