Polymorphism

What is polymorphism?

Polymorphism just means the ability to take on various forms.

In Python, the whole deal about this concept is that it lets us define methods in a child class with the same name as that in the parent class.

Essentially, it allows us to edit parent class methods in the child class. This is known as method overriding.

class Animal: 
    def make_noise(self):
        print("I can make noise!")
class Dog(Animal):
    def make_noise(self):
        super().make_noise()
        print("ruff ruff")
    
some_animal = Animal()
some_animal.make_noise()

dog = Dog()
dog.make_noise()

OUTPUT

I can make noise!
I can make noise!
ruff ruff

Here, the some_animal object is of the Animal class which has a simple make_noise() method. When called, this method prints out I can make noise!.

Now, we create a Dog class that inherits the Animal class. It overrides the make_noise() method by building on the existing method. It uses super().make_noise() to access the parent class make_noise() method.

Then it builds on it by also saying "ruff ruff". That’s the whole idea behind polymorphism and method overriding in Python.