What is polymorphism in TypeScript?

What is polymorphism in TypeScript?

Polymorphism in TypeScript allows methods to do different things based on the object it is acting upon. It enables a single interface to represent different underlying forms (data types).

Can you give me an example of polymorphism in TypeScript?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

class Animal {
    makeSound(): void {
        console.log('Some sound');
    }
}

class Dog extends Animal {
    makeSound(): void {
        console.log('Bark');
    }
}

class Cat extends Animal {
    makeSound(): void {
        console.log('Meow');
    }
}

function animalSound(animal: Animal) {
    animal.makeSound();
}

const dog = new Dog();
const cat = new Cat();

animalSound(dog); // Outputs: Bark
animalSound(cat); // Outputs: Meow

In this example, both Dog and Cat classes override the makeSound method from the Animal class.

What are the benefits of using polymorphism?

Polymorphism promotes code reusability and flexibility. It allows you to write more generic and maintainable code, as you can use a single interface to interact with different data types.

Are there any drawbacks to using polymorphism?

One potential drawback is that it can lead to more complex code if not managed properly. Additionally, it may introduce performance overhead due to dynamic method resolution.