Polymorphism in C++

Polymorphism in C++

Introduction

Have you ever had the feeling that something was just a touch too complicated and your mind kept wrapping itself around ideas without actually putting them into practice? Well, if you're familiar with writing code in C++, then this is probably a very familiar feeling for you. And don't worry, because today we're going to learn about one of the core principles of programming in C++ programming language, which is polymorphism. So strap on your thinking caps and join us on this journey as we explore all of the amazing things that polymorphism has to offer and just how it makes life easier for C++ developers!

What is Polymorphism in C++

Polymorphism in C++ is a powerful programming technique that allows multiple characteristics of an object to be represented using the same interface. This polymorphic ability allows C++ developers to create code that is more flexible, modular, and easier to maintain. Polymorphism essentially allows different objects with different behaviors to interact as if they were all one type of object. This makes it easier for developers to take advantage of inheritance and code reuse by creating classes that don't need to be changed when a new behavior is needed within an application. Translating polymorphic principles into C++ code can be extremely beneficial for creating dynamic applications.

Real Life example of Polymorphism

Let's understand a real life example of Polymorphism. A lady who behaves like a teacher in a classroom, a mother with her children, or a wife in a home. So a single person has various roles in her life according to the situation.

Types of Polymorphism in C++

There are two types of Polymorphism in c++ programming language. Those are

1. Compile time Polymorphism
2. Runtime Polymorphism

Compile time Polymorphism

In compile time polymorphism the overloaded functions are invoked by matching the number and type of the arguments. This particular information is available at the time of compilation. It is achievable by doing function overloading and operator overloading that is known as early binding or static binding.

Example

class A // base class declaration. 
{ 
     int a; 
     public: 
     void display() 
       { 
             cout<< "Class A "; 
       } 
  }; 
class B : public A // derived class declaration. 
{ 
    int b; 
    public: 
   void display() 
  { 
        cout<<"Class B"; 
  } 
}; 

Runtime Polymorphism

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class Animal
{
    public:
void eat()
    {
       cout<<"Eating...";
    }
};
class Dog: public Animal
{
 public:
 void eat()
    {
        cout<<"Eating fruit...";
    }
};
int main(void)
{
   Dog d = Dog();
   d.eat();
   return 0;
}

Difference between runtime and compile time polymorphism

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