Polymorphism

Okay, there is one final feature of objects that you need to understand.

Objects are smart enough to be dynamic. Specifically, they have the ability to react differently depending on the situation.

This is important because it makes the API dependable and easy to understand for the incoming developer.

Let's look at an example. Suppose you have a method called "print()".

The first question you might ask is, "what does this method print: pictures, text, or what?"

Well, using "polymorphism", an object can be made to handle any scenario with the exact same method name. Thus, depending on what the object is asked to print, it will be able to print it.

Instead of having separate methods like printPicture(), printLetters(), and printNumbers() you have one unified print() and the object itself determines how to handle the different types of situations.