RUNTIME POLYMORPHISM

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Polymorphism – An Introduction

◼ The term Polymorphism has been derived from the

Greek word Polu-morphous which means “the quality
or state of being able to assume different forms”

◼ In OO concept it means one function / operator can

do different kind of things & hence has different
meanings in different situations.
EX- The operator + has a different meaning in the expression
2 + 3 (add two integers) than in 1.7 + 3.3 (add two floating point
numbers)

◼ Polymorphism is build upon Inheritance

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Types of Polymorphism

Polymorphism

Compile time Run time

polymorphism / Static Binding polymorphism / Dynamic binding

Function Operator
Virtual Functions
Overloading Overloading

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 Run time Polymorphism – An Example
class shape
{
shape area() public:
void area();
};

class rectangle : public shape

{
float length, breadth;
public:
rectangle circle void area(){………}
};
triangle
class circle : public shape
{
float radius;
square public:
void area(){………}
};

We want the same function area() should calculate the area of all the
shapes depending upon the situation. 4
Run time Polymorphism – An Example
class shape { int main()
public: {
void area(); shape *sp;
};

class rectangle : public shape sp = new rectangle;

{ sp->area();
float length, breadth; }
public:
void area(){
cout << “area=“ ;
cout << length*breadth;
}
Which function is called?
}; -The function in
class circle : public shape
shape
{ is called.
float radius;
public:
To avoid this area() in
void area(){
cout << “area=” << 2*3.14*radius; class shape is
} declared
}; as a virtual function
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Virtual functions
// Program: ex4.cpp class circle : public shape
# include<iostream.h> {
using namespace std; float radius;
class shape public:
{ circle :: circle(float r)
public: {radious = r;}
virtual void area(); void area()
}; {
cout << “area=”;
class rectangle : public shape { cout << 2*3.14*radius;
float length, breadth; }
public: };
rectangle :: rectangle(float
l, float b) int main()
{
{
shape *sp;
length = l; breadth = b;
} sp = new rectangle(5.0, 3.0);
void area()
sp->area();
{
sp = new circle(2.0);
cout << “area=“ ;
cout << length*breadth; sp->area();
} return 0;
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}; }
Pure virtual function

◼ A pure virtual function is declared in the base class

but not implemented. Implementations are given in
specific derived class.

◼ Declare
virtual function prototype = 0;
Ex: virtual area()=0;