What are some examples of polymorphism in Java?

What are some examples of polymorphism in Java?

Polymorphism in Java allows methods to do different things based on the object that it is acting upon. For example, consider a superclass called 'Animal' with a method 'makeSound()'. Subclasses like 'Dog' and 'Cat' can override this method to provide specific sounds.

Can you give me a code example of that?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

class Animal {
    void makeSound() {
        System.out.println("Animal sound");
    }
}

class Dog extends Animal {
    void makeSound() {
        System.out.println("Bark");
    }
}

class Cat extends Animal {
    void makeSound() {
        System.out.println("Meow");
    }
}

public class TestPolymorphism {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Animal myDog = new Dog();
        Animal myCat = new Cat();
        myDog.makeSound(); // Outputs: Bark
        myCat.makeSound(); // Outputs: Meow
    }
}

What is the benefit of using polymorphism?

Polymorphism enhances flexibility and maintainability in code. It allows for code that can work with objects of different classes, making it easier to extend and modify.

Are there different types of polymorphism?

Yes, there are two main types: compile-time polymorphism (method overloading) and runtime polymorphism (method overriding). Each serves different purposes in programming.