Python is a popular programming language with a lot of functionality and features. One of the most important features of Python is method overriding. Method overriding is a technique used in object-oriented programming that allows a subclass to provide a specific implementation of a method that is already provided by its parent class. In this article, we will take a deep dive into method overriding in Python, including what it is, how it works, and why it is important.
What is Method Overriding?
Method overriding is a concept in object-oriented programming that allows a subclass to provide a specific implementation of a method that is already provided by its parent class. This means that when a method is called on an object of the subclass, the subclass’s implementation of the method will be used instead of the parent class’s implementation. In other words, the subclass “overrides” the parent class’s method.
How Does Method Overriding in Python works?
In Python, method overriding is implemented using inheritance. When a subclass inherits from a parent class, it inherits all of the parent class’s methods, including any methods that can be overridden. To override a method in Python, the subclass simply defines a method with the same name as the method in the parent class.
Here is an example:
class ParentClass:
def my_method(self):
print("ParentClass's method")
class ChildClass(ParentClass):
def my_method(self):
print("ChildClass's method")
obj = ChildClass()
obj.my_method()
In this example, we have a parent class called ParentClass and a child class called ChildClass. The ParentClass has a method called my_method, which simply prints out “ParentClass’s method”. The ChildClass also has a method called my_method, but it prints out “ChildClass’s method”. When we create an object of the ChildClass and call the my_method method on it, the output will be “ChildClass’s method”, because the ChildClass‘s implementation of the method overrides the ParentClass‘s implementation.
Why is Method Overriding Important?
Method overriding is an important concept in object-oriented programming because it allows for greater flexibility and modularity in code. By allowing subclasses to override methods from their parent classes, developers can create more specialized behavior for their objects without having to modify the original code.
For example, imagine you have a class called Animal with a method called speak. The speak method simply prints out a generic sound that all animals make. Now imagine you have a subclass called Dog that inherits from Animal. The Dog subclass can override the speak method to print out a more specific sound that dogs make. This allows developers to create more specialized behavior for their objects without having to modify the original Animal class.
Examples of Method Overriding in Python
Here are a few more examples of method overriding in Python:
class Vehicle:
def start(self):
print("Starting vehicle")
class Car(Vehicle):
def start(self):
print("Starting car")
class Motorcycle(Vehicle):
def start(self):
print("Starting motorcycle")
car = Car()
car.start() # Output: "Starting car"
motorcycle = Motorcycle()
motorcycle.start() # Output: "Starting motorcycle"
In this example, we have a parent class called Vehicle and two child classes called Car and Motorcycle. The Vehicle class has a method called start, which simply prints out “Starting vehicle”. The Car and Motorcycle classes both have their own implementations of the start method.
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