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CHAPTER 6 INHERITANCE AND

POLYMORPHISM
Prepared by Mr. KAY HENG
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CHAPTER 6
Polymorphism
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Polymorphism
1. What is polymorphism?
2. Why polymorphism?
3. Specific uses of polymorphism
4. Notes
5. Remember
6. Casting
7. Instance of Operations
8. Remember
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What is Polymorphism? (1)

• OOP has 3 features:
1. Class encapsulation
2. Inheritance
3. Polymorphism
• Polymorphism is a mechanism to allow a single variable
to refer to objects from different classes.
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What is Polymorphism? Example (2)

• Assume we have GraduateStudent which inherits from
Student. Here is an example.
public class Student{
public String getClassName(){
return "Student Class";
}
UndergraduateStudent
}
Student +getClassName():String

+getClassName():String
GraduateStudent

+getClassName():String
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What is Polymorphism? Example (3)

//Continue ...
public class GraduateStudent extends Student{
@Override public String getClassName(){
return "GraduateStudent Class";
}
}

public class UndergraduateStudent extends Student{

@Override public String getClassName(){
return “UndergraduateStudent Class";
}
}
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What is Polymorphism? Test 1 (4)

//Test1 1 – Polymorphism
public class TestPoly1{
public static void main(String[] args){
Student s = new UndergraduateStudent();
System.out.println(s.getClassName());
}
}
That’s polymorphism
Q. What is output?
A. UnderGraduateStudent Class
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What is Polymorphism? Test 2 (5)

//Example 2 – Without Polymorphism
public class TestNoPoly2 {
public static void main(String[] args){
GraduateStudent gs = new GraduateStudent();
displayUnder(gs);
displayGraduate(new UndergraduateStudent());
}
static void displayUnder(GraduateStudent gs){
System.out.println(gs.getClassName());
}
static void displayGraduate(UndergraduateStudent us){
System.out.println(us.getClassName());
}
}
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What is Polymorphism? Test 2 (6)

//Example 2 – With Polymorphism
public class TestPoly2 {
public static void main(String[] args){
display(new GraduateStudent());
display(new UndergraduateStudent());
}

//Polymorphic method
public static void display(Student stu){
System.out.println(stu.getClassName());
}
}
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Why Polymorphism? (1)

• Why Polymorphism?
1. To choose which method from which class is called at
runtime dynamically.
2. A variable of a parent type can refer to any child and
grand child of the parent.
Student stu = new GraduateStudent();
stu.getClassName(); UndergraduateStudent

Student getClassName():String

GraduateStudent
getClassName():String
getClassName():String
Parent/Superclass Children/Subclass
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Specific Uses of Polymorphism

Methods (1)
Methods
• If we don’t use polymorphism, you have to make a new
method for every different parameter data type. Look at
slide 8.
• But with polymorphism, you make only one method for
every parameter which has the same parent. Look at
slide 9.
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Specific Uses of Polymorphism

Array (2)
Array: In Java, every element in an array has the same
type, doesn’t it? E.g.
double[] scores = new double[10];
scores[0] = 1.4;
scores[1] = “Hi”; //Compile Error

Circle[] circles = new Circle[5];

circles[0] = new Circle(5);
circles[1] = new Circle(20);
circles[2] = new Student();//Compile Error
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Specific Uses of Polymorphism

Array (3)
Q. If I do want to store different types of objects in one
array, how can I do it?
A. Use polymorphism.
If the objects are inherited from the same parent, we
can store them in the same array.
Example:
Student[] students = new Student[3];
students[0] = new Student();
students[1] = new GraduateStudent();
students[2] = new UndergraduateStudent();
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Specific usages of Polymorphism

Array (4)
public class TestPoly3 {
public static void main(String[] args){
Student[] s = new Student[3];
s[0] = new Student();
s[1] = new GraduateStudent();
s[2] = new UndergraduateStudent();
display(s); //Polymorphism
}

public static void display(Student[] s){

for(int i = 0; i<s.length; i++){

System.out.println(s[i].getClassName());
}
}
}
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Note #1 (1)
• Look at the codes again.
public class Student{ GraduateStudent and
public String getClassName(){ UndergraduateStudent
return "Student Class"; override getClassName()
} method!
}
public class GraduateStudent extends Student{
@Override public String getClassName(){
return "GraduateStudent Class";
}
}
public class UndergraduateStudent extends Student{
@Override public String getClassName(){
return “UndergraduateStudent Class";
}
}
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Note #1 (2)
• Please note that the two subclasses of Student override
getClassName().
Then, we can use polymorphism to refer to getClassName() in
the sub class.
public class TestPoly1{
public static void main(String[] args){
Student s;
s = new GraduateStudent();
System.out.println(s.getClassName());
s = new UndergraduateStudent();
System.out.println(s.getClassName());
}
}
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Note #2 (1)
GraduateStudent, we add a
• But now in a subclass

new method, say getDegree().

public class GraduateStudent extends Student{
public String getClassName(){
return "GraduateStudent Class";
}
public String getDegree(){
return "Msc in Computer Science";
}
}
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Note #2 (2)
• And then we want to use polymorphism to call
getDegree() in the subclass,
public class TestPoly1{
public static void main(String[] args){
Student s = new GraduateStudent();
System.out.println(s.getDegree());
}
}
It will show a compile error because Student class
doesn’t have getDegree().
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Note #3 (1)
• What about if we want add a method, say getID() to
the parent, Student.
public class Student{
public String getClassName(){
return "Student Class";
}
public String getID(){
return “NPIC001";
}
}
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Note #3 (2)
• Then we want to call getID().
public class TestPoly1{
public static void main(String[] args){
Student s = new GraduateStudent();
System.out.println(s.getID());
}
}
Q. Is it a compile error?
A. No. As long as getID() is in Student, we can call
it without any question.
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The bottom line (1)

UndergraduateStudent

Student getClassName():String

GraduateStudent
getClassName():String
getClassName():String

1. As long as subclasses inherit from the same parent, you

can declare a variable as the parent type and then refer
to any subclasses.
Student stu; //stu is parent type
//stu refers to subclasses
stu = new UndergraduateStudent();
stu = new GraduateStudent();
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The bottom line (2)

2. When you call a method which exists both in a parent
and subclass, then it will dynamically refer to the
method in the subclass. (This is the main reason to use
Polymorphism) See slide 7.
3. You cannot call methods that are NOT existed in
parent. If you try it, you will get compile error.
See slide 18.
4. However, you can call every method in the superclass.
See slide 19 & 20.
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Remember (1)
• Polymorphism is a mechanism to enable us to choose a
method at runtime dynamically.
• Polymorphism always needs Inheritance.
• Polymorphism always needs Overridden Methods.
• There is no keyword to indicate Polymorphism.
• You can recognise it whenever you see a class type that is
different from its constructor. E.g.
Student s = new GraduateStudent();
• You can also recognise it, when a class type is Object
class. E.g.
private void aMethod(Object ob){...}
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Remember (2)
• Polymorphism is not as vital as inheritance. That is,
without polymorphism, you still CAN make a Java
program; however without inheritance, especially when
using Java library code, you CANNOT achieve very much.
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Casting Objects (1)

• What is Casting?
Casting is a technique to convert a variable from one
primitive type to another one. E.g.:
double d1 = 2.5;
double d2 = 12;
int i1 = 23;
int i2 = 22.5; // Compile Error
• How to solve this error?
int i2 = (int) 22.5; // i2 = 22
//Casting from double 22.5 to integer.
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Casting Objects (2)

• To understand casting, let’s meet a group of
animals studying polymorphism.

SR: Smart Rabbit

CB: Curious
Ball

CB is a curious student who always asks questions

whereas SR is a smart student. She can help to answer
CB’s questions.
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Casting Objects (3)

CB: Hey Smart Rabbit! Can I ask you some
questions?
SR: Yes, Of course. What can I do for ya?
CB: I have 2 classes, Grape inherits from Fruit.
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Casting Objects (4)

SR: So what?
CB: Grape has four methods. And Fruit has only two
methods. Then I want to use polymorphism like this:

Fruit f = new Grape();

So which methods can I call from f?

f._ _ _ ?
SR: Then you can call only those methods from Fruit
class like isEatable() and getColor(), and, of
course, other 9 methods from Object class.
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Casting Objects (5)

CB: You know, usually when I define a variable with
a parent type and refer to a constructor from the
same class, I can call every method from it.
Grape g = new Grape();
g.getTaste(); // OK
g.getVitamin(); //OK
SR: Yeh, and what is your problem?
CB: But now when I use polymorphism, it seems to
me that I couldn’t do what I used to do.
Fruit fruit = new Grape();
fruit.getTaste(); // Compile Error
fruit.getVitamin(); // Compile Error
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Casting Objects (6)

CB: So do you have any solution, Rabbit?
SR: Why not? You can use “casting” to cast from
Fruit to another Grape variable.
CB: Can you show me?
SR: Sure! Here it is:
Fruit fruit = new Grape();

Grape grape = (Grape) fruit; // Casting

grape.getTaste(); //OK
grape.getVitamin(); //OK
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Casting Objects (6)

CB: Yeh... but you still create a variable that has
Grape as its parent type. It doesn’t make sense
to me?
SR: Why not?
CB: You know, it is much better if I just create a
variable which has Grape as its type and refer to
its constructor since the beginning like this:
Grape g = new Grape();
g.getTaste(); // OK
g.getVitamin(); //OK
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Casting Objects (7)

SR: Well, but do you remember polymorphic
method?
CB: Yes.
SR: So can I tell me some about it?
CB: polymorphic method is just like other methods
but the type of parameters is always a superclass.
For example:
public static void display(Object o){
JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null,
o);
}
SR: Yehh! You are good!
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Casting Objects (8)

CB: Thank you. But how polymorphic method works with casting?
SR: OK! I’ll show you the differences when not using casting and
when using casting.
public class TestNoCasting {
public static void main(String[] args){
showTaste(new Grape());
}
public static void showTaste(Fruit fruit){
JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null,
fruit.getTaste());
} //Error because Fruit has not getTaste()
}
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Casting Objects (9)

SR: Here is codes when using casting.
public class TestCastingObject {
public static void main(String[] args){
showTaste(new Grape());
}
public static void showTaste(Fruit fruit){
Grape grape = (Grape) fruit;
JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null,
grape.getTaste()); //OK
}
}
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Casting Objects (10)

CB: Wow! Now I got. Casting can help
polymorphism more powerful. Both Java and you
are very smart.
SR: Not yet dude!
CB: What else?
SR: What about if I add another class, say Apple
inherits also from Fruit? Let’s see it on the next
slide.
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Casting Objects (11)

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Casting Objects (11)

SR: Then I pass in Apple object to showTaste()
method.
public class TestCastingObject {
public static void main(String[] args){
showTaste(new Apple());
}
public static void showTaste(Fruit fruit){
Grape grape = (Grape) fruit;
JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null,
grape.getTaste());
}
}//Runtime Error: casting wrong class
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Instance of Operation (1)

CB: Wo.. ho.. ho. I didn’t realize it.
SR: Don’t worry! Remember Java is number one in
the world.
CB: So what is your solution?
SR: We can use instanceof to test whether it
is correct object or not before we cast it.
CB: Can you show how?
SR: OK, Let’s go to the next slide.
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instance of Operation (2)

public static void main(String[] args) {
showTaste(new Apple());
}
public static void showTaste(Fruit fruit) {
if (fruit instanceof Grape) {
Grape grape = (Grape) fruit;
System.out.print(grape.getTaste());
} else if(fruit instanceof Apple) {
Apple apple = (Apple) fruit;
System.out.print(apple.getTaste());
}
}
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instanceof Operation (3)

CB: OK. It seems to me that I know them
all, but I want to ask you, Smart Rabbit,
whether the 3rd year students in NPIC
who are watching us understand it or
not.
SR: This is a hard question.
I’m not sure either. You’ve
better ask them by yourself.
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Remember (1)
• Casting is a technique to convert a variable from one
class type to another one within an inheritance hierarchy.
That is, if we cast a class to another class in different root,
you will get run-time error. E.g:
Fruit fruit = new Grape();
Grape grape = (Grape) fruit;// OK
Apple apple = (Apple) fruit;//Runtime Error
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Remember (2)
• A keyword instanceof is an operation to check whether a
class that we want to cast is in the correct hierarchy or
not.
• E.g.:
Fruit fruit = new Grape();
if(fruit instanceof Grape){
Grape grape = (Grape) fruit;
} else if(fruit instanceof Apple){
Apple apple = (Apple) fruit;
}
fruit.getColor();
fruit.getTaste();