java dynamic method dispatch

In Java, dynamic method dispatch is the mechanism by which a call to an overridden method is resolved at run time, rather than at compile time.

Dynamic method dispatch is a key feature of Java's object-oriented programming model, and it allows a subclass to override the behavior of a method defined in a superclass. When a method is overridden, the subclass can provide its own implementation of the method that is specific to the subclass.

Here's an example of dynamic method dispatch in Java:

class Animal {
    public void speak() {
        System.out.println("Some generic animal noise");
    }
}

class Dog extends Animal {
    @Override
    public void speak() {
        System.out.println("Bark");
    }
}

class Cat extends Animal {
    @Override
    public void speak() {
        System.out.println("Meow");
    }
}

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Animal animal = new Animal();
        animal.speak();  // Outputs: Some generic animal noise

        Animal dog = new Dog();
        dog.speak();  // Outputs: Bark

        Animal cat = new Cat();
        cat.speak();  // Outputs: Meow
    }
}

In this example, the speak() method is overridden in the Dog and Cat classes, and the speak() method of the correct subclass is called at run time based on the type of the object.

Dynamic method dispatch is an important feature of Java's object-oriented programming model, and it allows you to write code that is more flexible and reusable. It's also an important concept to understand when working with inheritance and polymorphism in Java.