polümorfe

Polymorphism is a fundamental concept in object-oriented programming that allows objects of different classes to be treated as objects of a common superclass. This means that a single interface can be used to represent different underlying forms, or types, of objects. The term "polymorphism" itself comes from Greek words meaning "many" and "forms."

In practice, polymorphism enables code to be more flexible and extensible. Instead of writing separate code for each specific type of object, you can write code that operates on a more general type, and the correct behavior will be invoked based on the actual type of the object at runtime. This is often achieved through mechanisms like method overriding and interfaces. For example, if you have a `Shape` superclass with subclasses like `Circle` and `Square`, a function designed to draw a `Shape` can correctly draw either a `Circle` or a `Square` without needing to know the specific type beforehand.

This principle promotes code reusability and reduces redundancy. It allows developers to design systems that are easier to maintain and adapt to future changes. When new types are introduced that conform to the common superclass or interface, the existing polymorphic code can often work with these new types without modification. Polymorphism is a cornerstone of effective object-oriented design.