Polymorphism (computer science): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 16:03, 19 October 2023

Revision as of 07:23, 13 November 2023

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{{Short description|Using one interface or symbol with regards to multiple different types}}

{{distinguish|Polymorphic code}}

{{Polymorphism}}

In [[programming language theory]] and [[type theory]], '''polymorphism''' is 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>

In [[Object-oriented programming language theory]] and [[type theory]], '''polymorphism'''Polymorphism is the provision of a single [[interfaceInterface (computingobject-oriented programming)|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>

The most commonly recognized major forms of polymorphism are: