DYNAMIC METHOD DISPATCH

Runtime Polymorphism or Dynamic method dispatch

Dynamic method dispatch is a mechanism by which a call to an overridden method is resolved at runtime. This is how java implements runtime polymorphism. When an overridden method is called by a reference, java determines which version of that method to execute based on the type of object it refer to. In simple words the type of object which it referred determines which version of overridden method will be called.

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Upcasting

When Parent class reference variable refers to Child class object, it is known as Upcasting

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Example

class Game
{
 public void type()
 {  System.out.println("Indoor & outdoor"); }
}

Class Cricket extends Game
{
 public void type()
 {  System.out.println("outdoor game"); }

 public static void main(String[] args)
 {
   Game gm = new Game();
   Cricket ck = new Cricket();
   gm.type();
   ck.type();
   gm=ck;      //gm refers to Cricket object
   gm.type();  //calls Cricket's version of type
 }
}

Output :

Indoor & outdoor 
Outdoor game
Outdoor game

Notice the last output. This is because of gm = ck; Now gm.type() will call Cricket version of type method. Because here gm refers to cricket object.