Introduction

This article will discuss about Polymorphism in object oriented programming. Watch our 500 videos on Azure, WCF, WPF, LINQ, Design Patterns, WWF, Silverlight, UML @ http://www.questpond.com/

What is Polymorphism?

• Polymorphism is one of the primary characteristics (concept) of object-oriented programming.
• Poly means many and morph means form. Thus, polymorphism refers to being able to use many forms of a type without regard to the details.
• Polymorphism is the characteristic of being able to assign a different meaning specifically, to allow an entity such as a variable, a function, or an object to have more than one form.
• Polymorphism is the ability to process objects differently depending on their data types.
• Polymorphism is the ability to redefine methods for derived classes.

Types of Polymorphism

• Compile time Polymorphism
• Run time Polymorphism

Compile time Polymorphism

• Compile time Polymorphism also known as method overloading
• Method overloading means having two or more methods with the same name but with different signatures

Example of Compile time polymorphism

Run time Polymorphism

• Run time Polymorphism also known as method overriding
• Method overriding means having two or more methods with the same name , same signature but with different implementation

Example of Run time Polymorphism

You can find source code at the top of this article.