Polymorphism
Polymorphism is a core concept in object-oriented programming (OOP) that allows objects of different classes to be treated as objects of a common superclass, enabling a single interface to represent different underlying forms. It lets methods behave differently based on the object that invokes them, often implemented through method overriding or interfaces. This promotes code flexibility, reusability, and abstraction in software design.
Developers should learn polymorphism to write more modular and maintainable code, as it simplifies complex systems by allowing uniform handling of diverse objects. It is essential in scenarios like building extensible frameworks, implementing plugin architectures, or designing APIs where different implementations share a common interface. For example, in a graphics application, polymorphism enables drawing various shapes (e.g., circles, squares) using a single 'draw' method call.