Thread: Polymorphism

Hi, I was wondering what is Polymorphism? I have been reading ebooks and websites but I just don't understand when to implement it or how for that matter.
Do I use virtual functions or function polymorphism ?

I know that in order to use polymorphism, you might have to inherit from other class.
I created a super class, and derived classes. Because the derived classes have common attributes with each other..
So what I did was create a virtual function to enforce restrictions in the positions of the each child object instances. For example class 1 object might check to see if age is between 1-4 and the other class to see if age is between 4-10.

Which brings me to the question of virtual functions. What is the point of it? I will just give an example class

Code:

 

class Animal:
{
     private: 
        int numFeet ;
        int Age ; 
        int height ,weight ;
    public: 
       Animal()
      {
           numFeet = 0 ;
           Age = 0 ;
           height = 0 ;//and so on
       }
       virtual void setAge(int) =0; 

}
class Dog:public Animal
{
     public: 
        Dog::setAge(int x) 
       {
             if(x>1 && x <4 )
            {
                Age = x ; 
            }
           else
          {

                Age = 0 ;
           }
       } 
}
}
class Human:public Animal
{
     public: 
        Human::setAge(int x) 
       {
             if(x>4 && x <10 )
            {
                Age = x ; 
            }
           else
          {

                Age = 0 ;
           }
       } 
}

from that because the way setAge() inherited from Animal is defined I could instead
create each implementation of setAge() in the different classes without bothering with a virtual function, it looks like the same thing to me.
if that is true the only thing I can see with a virtual function is that it is a way of making a superclass or abstract class from being instantiated.

while I at least have some understanding of inheritance I don't get polymorphism
i have a super class and derived classes inherit from them. while they perform the same operation, i want them to be able to change the operation they perform- where I am sure polymorphism comes in, changing their behavior.

Code:

class Thing:
{
    private :
        int h,w;
        bool isTrue ; 
   public:
       draw(int x1,int x2) ;
       draw(int x1,int y1,x2,y2) ;
       draw(int x1,int y1,x2,y2,x3,y3) ;

}
class Child1:public Thing
{
      
}
class Child2:public Thing
{
}

from the above code, each derived class should be able to change how they draw itself, a triangle will use the 3rd draw, a rectangle the first draw() and so on.
So i used function polymorphism. Which is the easiest way I could implement it.
But how do I use one function draw() to able to draw all the shapes just using the draw() ?
Please, i need to understand poly.

I'm sure someone else will be better at explaining your first few questions, because I'm generally bad at explaining things. But I can however provide a suggestion for your last question:

Wouldn't the logical solution be to have a Shape(Named it Shape instead of Thing) class like this?:

Code:

class Shape {
public:
	virtual ~Shape();
	virtual void Draw() = 0;
};

Then the derived classes like this:

Code:

class Rectangle : public Shape {
public:
	Rectangle( int left, int top, int right, int bottom );
	void Draw(); 
private:
	int left_, top_, right_, bottom_;
};

class Triangle : public Shape {
public:
	Triangle( int x1, int y1, int x2, int y2, int x3, int y3 );
	void Draw();
private:
	int x1_, y1_, x2_, y2_, x3_, y3_;
};

Then if you want to move these around, add a pure virtual "Move" or "Translate" function to the base class, taking offset parameters x and y, and then implement these in the derived classes? Similarly for rotation and scaling functions. And of course you can just follow the same procedure I used for the Triangle and Rectangle example for other shapes, such as circles for example.

I know I didn't fill in the function bodies, but it should be pretty simple. Also, consider making the Draw function const, because there shouldn't be any logical reason for a Draw function to change the state of the Shape should there?

Originally Posted by JacobN

I'm sure someone else will be better at explaining your first few questions, because I'm generally bad at explaining things. But I can however provide a suggestion for your last question:

Wouldn't the logical solution be to have a Shape(Named it Shape instead of Thing) class like this?:

Code:

class Shape {
public:
	virtual ~Shape();
	virtual void Draw() = 0;
};

Then the derived classes like this:

Code:

class Rectangle : public Shape {
public:
	Rectangle( int left, int top, int right, int bottom );
	void Draw(); 
private:
	int left_, top_, right_, bottom_;
};

class Triangle : public Shape {
public:
	Triangle( int x1, int y1, int x2, int y2, int x3, int y3 );
	void Draw();
private:
	int x1_, y1_, x2_, y2_, x3_, y3_;
};

Then if you want to move these around, add a pure virtual "Move" or "Translate" function to the base class, taking offset parameters x and y, and then implement these in the derived classes? Similarly for rotation and scaling functions. And of course you can just follow the same procedure I used for the Triangle and Rectangle example for other shapes, such as circles for example.

I know I didn't fill in the function bodies, but it should be pretty simple. Also, consider making the Draw function const, because there shouldn't be any logical reason for a Draw function to change the state of the Shape should there?

Thanks for quick reply. I need to have a Thing class but I did think of creating a Shape class and three subclasses to derive from the Shape class. and making them member objects of the Thing class. But I was afraid to confuse myself furthermore.

the thing is for the Human or Dog.
I could decide in my start up program that I want a dog to draw a rectangle to the screen and also be able to draw a circle or triangle.
and the Human should be able to do the same. I just can't see how to do so, i am writing down to see how to do it. I will try and do what you said.
Thanks for reply

Originally Posted by Eman

Hi, I was wondering what is Polymorphism? I have been reading ebooks and websites but I just don't understand when to implement it or how for that matter.
Do I use virtual functions or function polymorphism ?

I know that in order to use polymorphism, you might have to inherit from other class.
I created a super class, and derived classes. Because the derived classes have common attributes with each other..
So what I did was create a virtual function to enforce restrictions in the positions of the each child object instances. For example class 1 object might check to see if age is between 1-4 and the other class to see if age is between 4-10.

I think your making it more confusing than it needs to be, and others can correct me (please do!) if I'm wrong in my lower intermediate thinking here... Instead of having the objects check themselves, what you want to do is create a different object based on a piece of information (in your case of a child, its age).

Say: Virtual Human class, derived Toddler, derived GradeSchooler

Making Human virtual prevents the user from ever creating an instance of one. Just like you would never make an Animal or a Car, but you would make a Tiger or a PT Cruiser, which are specific instances of objects as related to real world ideas/things.

However, having Human (Car, Animal, ...) allows you to decide when the program RUNS what type of Human you are making. Such as:

Code:

 
if(age < 4)
    Human * Child = new Toddler; 
else
    Human * Child = new Gradeschooler;