Polymorphism means βmany formsβ - the ability of an object to take on multiple forms depending on the context. In Java, it allows one interface or superclass to be used with different implementations.
Types of Polymorphism
| Type | Also Known as |
|---|---|
| Compile-Time | Method Overloading |
| Runtime | Method Overriding |
Why It Matters
- Enables flexible and scalable code.
- Promotes use of interfaces and abstract classes.
- Powers design patterns, dependency injection, etc.
Tip
If youβre calling the same method on different types and getting different behavior - thatβs polymorphism.
For runtime polymorphism, think method overriding + dynamic method dispatch.
Parent: _OOP Concepts