Learning Java from 0 to Senior 6/100: Polymorphism in Java

Polymorphism in Java — Flexibility in Object Interaction

Introduction to Polymorphism

Polymorphism, a Greek word meaning “many shapes,” is a crucial concept in object-oriented programming. It allows objects to be treated as instances of their parent class, enabling one interface to control access to a general class of actions.

Types of Polymorphism

In Java, polymorphism manifests primarily in two ways:

1. Compile-time Polymorphism (Static Binding or Method Overloading): This occurs when multiple methods have the same name but different parameters (type, number, or both).

class Display {
    public void show(int i) {
        System.out.println("Displaying an integer: " + i);
    }

    public void show(String s) {
        System.out.println("Displaying a string: " + s);
    }
}

1. Runtime Polymorphism (Dynamic Binding or Method Overriding): This occurs when a child class overrides a method from its parent class, allowing the invocation of a method implementation specific to the child class type.

class Animal {
    public void sound() {
        System.out.println("This is the animal sound");
    }
}

class Dog extends Animal {
    @Override…