What is method overriding?

Method overriding occurs when a subclass provides a specific implementation of a method that has already been defined in its superclass. This feature of object-oriented programming enables polymorphism, allowing different classes to define their own behaviors for the same method signature. When a method in a subclass has the same name, return type, and parameters as a method in its superclass, the subclass method "overrides" the superclass method. Therefore, when an instance of the subclass is invoked, it will use the overridden version of the method instead of the superclass's version.

This practice allows for more specialized behavior in subclasses while maintaining a common interface defined by the superclass. It is particularly useful in cases where the subclass has additional or different functionality necessary for its specific context. This capability enhances code reusability and allows developers to implement behaviors that are appropriate for subclasses without modifying the existing superclass code.