What is polymorphism in programming?

Polymorphism in programming refers to the ability of a single interface to represent different types of objects, allowing objects of different classes to be treated as objects of a common superclass. This concept is fundamental in object-oriented programming, as it enables the design of flexible and reusable code.

For instance, when a function is defined in terms of a superclass, it can be used with any subclass derived from that superclass. This means that the same method call can invoke different behaviors depending on the type of object that is passed. This dynamic behavior is what makes polymorphism a powerful feature, facilitating code that can interact with objects without needing to know their specific types at compile time.

Having the ability to design systems where different classes can be accessed through a uniform interface enhances maintainability and scalability. This is particularly useful in scenarios like collections handling, where the specific class type isn't known upfront.

Other options describe aspects related to polymorphism but do not capture its essence as effectively. For example, when different classes share the same method or when methods are overridden in subclasses speak to specific implementations or features of polymorphic behavior but do not fully encapsulate the broad utility of representing various types through a common interface. Similarly, having a single function operate on different data types hints