What is polymorphism in programming?

Can you explain what polymorphism is in programming?

Polymorphism is a concept in programming that allows objects to be treated as instances of their parent class. It enables methods to do different things based on the object it is acting upon.

Can you give me some examples of polymorphism?

Sure! One example is method overriding, where a subclass provides a specific implementation of a method that is already defined in its superclass. Another example is method overloading, where multiple methods have the same name but different parameters.

How does polymorphism benefit software development?

Polymorphism enhances code reusability and flexibility, allowing developers to write more generic and maintainable code. It also simplifies code management by enabling the same interface to be used for different underlying forms.

Are there any drawbacks to using polymorphism?

Yes, while polymorphism is powerful, it can lead to complexity in understanding the code, especially if overused. It may also introduce performance overhead due to dynamic method resolution.