Mastering Polymorphism in Python: A Beginner’s Guide

Unlock the Power of Flexible Code with Polymorphism

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Polymorphism is one of the core concepts in object-oriented programming (OOP) that allows objects of different classes to be treated as objects of a common superclass. In simpler terms, polymorphism enables you to write code that can work with objects of different types without needing to know the specific type at runtime. This powerful technique is extensively used in Python and can help you write more flexible, maintainable, and extensible code.

In this article, we’ll explore polymorphism in Python, understand its different forms, and see how it can be applied to real-world scenarios with code examples.

Understanding Polymorphism

Polymorphism comes from the Greek words “poly” (meaning many) and “morph” (meaning form). In the context of programming, it refers to the ability of an object to take on many forms. There are two main types of polymorphism in Python:

1. Duck Typing: This form of polymorphism is based on the idea that if an object “walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it must be a duck.” In other words, Python doesn’t care about the actual type of an object; it only cares whether the object has the required methods and attributes to perform…