Method Overriding in Python: A Comprehensive Guide

Pitambar Mahato
May 8, 2023
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Tags: Python Inheritance Overriding

Method overriding is a feature of object-oriented programming that allows a subclass to provide its own implementation of a method that is already defined in its superclass. This means that when the method is called on an object of the subclass, the overridden method in the subclass is executed instead of the original method in the superclass.

Method overriding is a powerful tool for extending and customizing the behavior of existing code. It allows you to modify the behavior of a method without changing its name or signature, which can help to minimize the impact of changes on other parts of your code.

How to Override Methods in Python

Step 1: Create a Subclass

To override a method in Python, you first need to create a subclass that inherits from the superclass containing the method you want to override. This can be done using the class statement, followed by the name of the subclass and the name of the superclass in parentheses.

Step 2: Find the Parent Method

Once you have created the subclass, you need to find the method in the superclass that you want to override. This can be done using the super() function, which returns a temporary object of the superclass.

Step 3: Create the Overriding Method

Next, you can create the overriding method in the subclass. This method should have the same name and signature as the method in the superclass that you want to override.

Step 4: Supply Different Arguments

Finally, you can supply different arguments to the overriding method, which will modify the behavior of the method when it is called on objects of the subclass.

Example of Method Overriding in Python

A. Example Code

Here is an example of how to override a method in Python:

class Animal:
    def speak(self):
        print("An animal is speaking.")

class Cat(Animal):
    def speak(self):
        print("A cat is meowing.")

cat = Cat()
cat.speak()  # Output: "A cat is meowing."

In this example, we have defined a superclass called Animal, which contains a method called speak(). We then create a subclass called Cat, which overrides the speak() method with its own implementation. Finally, we create an object of the Cat class and call the speak() method, which outputs "A cat is meowing."

B. Output of the Code

The output of the code in the above example will be:

A cat is meowing.

Conclusion

A. Summary of What Was Covered

In this article, we have learned about method overriding in Python. We have defined method overriding and explained the benefits of using it. We have also discussed the steps involved in overriding a method in Python and provided an example of how to do it.

B. Benefits of Method Overriding

Method overriding is a powerful feature of object-oriented programming that allows you to modify the behavior of a method in a subclass without changing its name or signature. This can help to minimize the impact of changes on other parts of your code, making it easier to maintain and extend your software over time.