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 implementations.

Can you give me a code example of that?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

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

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

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

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

What is the benefit of using polymorphism?

Polymorphism enhances flexibility and maintainability in code. It allows you to write more generic code that can work with different types of objects, making it easier to extend and modify.

Are there other types of polymorphism in Java?

Yes, there are two main types of polymorphism in Java: compile-time (or static) polymorphism, which is achieved through method overloading, and runtime (or dynamic) polymorphism, which is achieved through method overriding.