Warning: Use of undefined constant referer - assumed 'referer' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 102

Warning: Use of undefined constant host - assumed 'host' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 105

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays:102) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 106

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays:102) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 109
Polymorphism - Papers

Polymorphism

In computer science, polymorphism is a programming language feature that allows values of different data types to be handled using a uniform interface. The concept of parametric polymorphism applies to both data types and functions. A function that can evaluate to or be applied to values of different types is known as a polymorphic function. A data type that can appear to be of a generalized type (e.g., a list with elements of arbitrary type) is designated polymorphic data type like the generalized type from which such specializations are made.
There are two fundamentally different kinds of polymorphism, originally informally described by Christopher Strachey in 1967. If the function ...

Want to read the rest of this paper?
Join Essayworld today to view this entire essay
and over 50,000 other term papers

of polymorphism as an extension to the lambda calculus (called the polymorphic lambda calculus, or System F). Parametric polymorphism is widely supported in statically typed functional programming languages. In the object-oriented programming community, programming using parametric polymorphism is often called generic programming.
In object-oriented programming, inclusion polymorphism is a concept in type theory wherein a name may denote instances of many different classes as long as they are related by some common super class.[1] Inclusion polymorphism is generally supported through subtyping, i.e., objects of different types are entirely substitutable for objects of another type (their base type(s)) and thus can be handled via a common interface. Alternately, inclusion polymorphism may be achieved through type coercion, also known as type ...

Get instant access to over 50,000 essays.
Write better papers. Get better grades.

Already a member? Login

CITE THIS PAGE:

APA
MLA
Chicago
Turabian

Polymorphism. (2011, February 28). Retrieved January 31, 2026, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Polymorphism/95356

"Polymorphism." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 28 Feb. 2011. Web. 31 Jan. 2026. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Polymorphism/95356>

"Polymorphism." Essayworld.com. February 28, 2011. Accessed January 31, 2026. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Polymorphism/95356.

JOIN NOW

Join today and get instant access to this and 50,000+ other essays

PAPER DETAILS

Added: 2/28/2011 10:13:38 PM
Submitted By: maxsubha
Category: Computers
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 307
Pages: 2

Save |

Report

SHARE THIS PAPER

SAVED ESSAYS

Save and find your favorite essays easier