Overriding

/ˌoʊvərˈraɪdɪŋ/ noun

Definition

The ability of a subclass to provide a specific implementation of a method that is already defined in its parent class. The new implementation replaces or 'overrides' the inherited behavior.

Etymology

From 'over-' (above, beyond) + 'ride' (to control, dominate). The term comes from the idea of 'riding over' or taking precedence over something else. In programming since the 1980s, it described how child classes could 'ride over' their parent's methods.

Kelly Says

Method overriding is like how you might handle chores differently than your parents did - you inherited the concept of 'doing laundry' from them, but you override their method with your own approach (maybe using different detergent or folding technique). Same task name, your own implementation!

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