PYTHON - METHOD OVERRIDING

'Method overriding' is redefining the same method of the Parent Class in the Child class.

Let us understand with the below example.

So, we have the 'LivingBeing' class that has a 'breathe( )' method.

Example :

class LivingBeing:

    def breathe():
        print("Breathes oxygen from Air")

So, the 'breathe( )' method has a print statement,

print("Breathes oxygen from Air")

That says, all Living Beings should Breathe oxygen from Air.

Now, let us create a 'Fish' class and since Fish is also a 'LivingBeing'. It should inherit the 'LivingBeing' class.

But the only issue is, the 'breathe( )' method won't be valid for 'Fish'. As a Fish breathe oxygen from water.

And this is where 'Method Overriding' comes into picture.

Let us understand with the below example.

Example :

class LivingBeing:

    def breathe(self):
        print("Breathes oxygen from Air")

class Fish(LivingBeing):

    def breathe(self):
        print("Breathes oxygen from Water")


fish1 = Fish()
fish1.breathe()

Output :

Breathes oxygen from Water

And all we have done is, created the 'LivingBeing' being class with the 'breathe( )' method.

class LivingBeing:

    def breathe(self):
        print("Breathes oxygen from Air")

Then we have created the 'Fish' class, inheriting the 'LivingBeing' class.

class Fish(LivingBeing):

    def breathe(self):
        print("Breathes oxygen from Water")

So, by Inheritance, the 'Fish' class should get the breathe( ) method/behaviour of the 'LivingBeing' class.

And since we don't want the breathe( ) method/behaviour of the 'LivingBeing' class. We have redefined or overridden the breathe( ) method in our 'Fish' class.

So, with 'fish' object of 'Fish' class,

fish1 = Fish( )

Now if you see the output.

Breathes oxygen from Water

We are able to call the breathe( ) method defined in the 'Fish' class itself.

fish1.breathe( )

And ignored the breathe( ) method defined in the parent class 'LivingBeing'.

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