Python Method Overriding

🔁 What is Method Overriding in Python?

Method Overriding is an object-oriented programming feature where a subclass provides a specific implementation of a method that is already defined in its parent class.

This allows a child class to modify or extend the behavior of its superclass.

📘 Why Override Methods?

  • To change or customize the behavior of a parent class method.
  • To implement polymorphism.
  • To extend parent class functionality.

🔧 Example: Basic Method Overriding

class Animal:
    def speak(self):
        return "Animal speaks"

class Dog(Animal):
    def speak(self):
        return "Dog barks"

# Testing
a = Animal()
d = Dog()

print(a.speak())  # Output: Animal speaks
print(d.speak())  # Output: Dog barks

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🧠 Explanation

  • Dog class inherits Animal.
  • speak() method in Dog overrides the one in Animal.
  • Each class defines its own version of speak().

🛠 Calling Parent Method from Child

You can still access the parent method using super().

class Bird:
    def sound(self):
        return "Chirp"

class Parrot(Bird):
    def sound(self):
        return super().sound() + " and talks too"

p = Parrot()
print(p.sound())  # Output: Chirp and talks too

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✅ Summary

  • Method Overriding lets you redefine a method in a subclass.
  • Enhances flexibility and supports polymorphism.
  • super() can be used to include parent class functionality.

Mastering method overriding is key to building extensible and well-structured OOP designs in Python. 🧩