Podtypu

Podtypu, or subtype, is a classification category situated below a broader type. It denotes a variant that shares the core properties of the parent type but exhibits distinctive traits that justify a separate label. Subtypes are used across disciplines to describe diversity while maintaining a common framework.

In biology and medicine, subtypes describe distinct forms within a species, population, or medical condition. They reflect genetic, phenotypic, or functional differences that are stable enough to warrant separate labeling, while still being part of the same higher-level type. In virology, for example, viruses can be described as subtypes defined by surface proteins. Note that in formal taxonomy the terms subspecies or varieties may be used differently in different groups, and podtypu is a pragmatic label rather than a fixed rank.

In information science and software engineering, a subtype is a specialized form of a supertype. Subtypes inherit the attributes and behavior of the parent type but can add new attributes, constraints, or methods. They support polymorphism, as a value of a subtype can be treated as a value of the supertype.

Examples include a general Vehicle type with subtypes Car and Truck in data models, or a base class Animal with subclasses Dog and Cat in object-oriented programming.

Identifying subtypes relies on criteria such as performance, function, anatomy, genetics, or data patterns. Subtyping supports modularity and extensibility but can also complicate maintenance if subtypes proliferate or overlap. Related concepts are supertype, subtyping, and subspecies; the term podtypu reflects the Polish term for this concept.