Polymorphism (computer science): Difference between revisions

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{{distinguish|Polymorphic code}}

{{Polymorphism}}

In [[programming language theory]] and [[type theory]], '''polymorphism''' is the provision of a single [[interface (computing)|interface]] to entities of different [[Data type|type]]s<ref>

{{cite web | url=http://www.stroustrup.com/glossary.html#Gpolymorphism | author=Bjarne Stroustrup | title=Bjarne Stroustrup's C++ Glossary | date=February 19, 2007 | quote=polymorphism – providing a single interface to entities of different types.}}</ref> or the use of a single symbol to represent multiple different types.<ref name="Luca">{{Cite journal | last1 = Cardelli | first1 = Luca| author-link1 = Luca Cardelli| last2 = Wegner | first2 = Peter| author-link2 = Peter Wegner| doi = 10.1145/6041.6042| title = On understanding types, data abstraction, and polymorphism| journal = [[ACM Computing Surveys]]| volume = 17| issue = 4| pages = 471–523| date=December 1985 | url = http://lucacardelli.name/Papers/OnUnderstanding.A4.pdf| citeseerx = 10.1.1.117.695| s2cid = 2921816}}: "Polymorphic types are types whose operations are applicable to values of more than one type."</ref> The concept is borrowed from a principle in biology where an organism or species can have many different forms or stages.<ref name="Moved">{{cite web | title=Polymorphism |work=The Java™ Tutorials: Learning the Java Language: Interfaces and Inheritance |publisher=Oracle | url=https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/java/IandI/polymorphism.html | access-date=2021-09-08}}</ref>

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* ''[[Parametric polymorphism]]'': not specifying concrete types and instead use abstract symbols that can substitute for any type.

* ''[[Subtyping]]'' (also called ''subtype polymorphism'' or ''inclusion polymorphism''): when a name denotes instances of many different classes related by some common superclass.<ref name="gbooch">{{cite book |last1=Conallen |first1=J. |last2=Engle |first2=M. |last3=Houston |first3=K. |last4=Maksimchuk |first4=R. |last5=Young |first5=B. |last6=Booch |first6=G. |author6-link=Grady Booch |title=Object-Oriented Analysis and Design with Applications |publisher=Pearson Education |edition=3rd |date=2007 |isbn=9780132797443 |pages= }}</ref>

==History==