What are some examples of polymorphism in Python?

What are some examples of polymorphism in Python?

Polymorphism in Python allows methods to do different things based on the object it is acting upon. For example, you can have a base class called Animal with a method speak(), and subclasses like Dog and Cat that implement speak() differently.

Can you show me a code example?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

class Animal:
    def speak(self):
        pass

class Dog(Animal):
    def speak(self):
        return 'Woof!'

class Cat(Animal):
    def speak(self):
        return 'Meow!'

animals = [Dog(), Cat()]
for animal in animals:
    print(animal.speak())

This will output:

Woof!
Meow!

What is the benefit of using polymorphism?

Polymorphism allows for code reusability and flexibility. You can write functions that can work with different types of objects, making your code more general and easier to maintain.

Are there any real-world applications of polymorphism?

Yes, polymorphism is widely used in frameworks and libraries. For instance, in GUI frameworks, different button types can respond to the same event in their own way, allowing for a consistent interface while maintaining unique behaviors.