Polymorphism in Java

In simple terms, polymorphism lets you treat derived class members just like their parent class's members.

In more precise terms, polymorphism (object-oriented programming theory) is the ability of objects belonging to different types to respond to method calls of methods of the same name, each one according to an appropriate type-specific behaviour. The programmer (and the program) does not have to know the exact type of the object in advance, so this behavior can be implemented at run time (this is called late binding or dynamic binding).

Java developers all too often associate the term polymorphism with an object's ability to magically execute correct method behavior at appropriate points in a program. That behavior is usually associated with overriding inherited class method implementations. However, a careful examination of polymorphism demystifies the magic and reveals that polymorphic behavior is best understood in terms of type, rather than as dependent on overriding implementation inheritance. That understanding allows developers to fully take advantage of polymorphism.

Please read the Reveal the magic behind subtype polymorphism for a deep understanding of polymorphism.