Object Oriented Programming Questions Long
In object-oriented programming, early binding and late binding are two different approaches for linking a method call to the actual code that will be executed at runtime.
Early binding, also known as static binding or compile-time binding, refers to the process of linking a method call to the corresponding method implementation during the compilation phase. This means that the compiler determines the method to be called based on the declared type of the object at compile time. The advantage of early binding is that it is faster and more efficient since the method resolution is done at compile time. However, it lacks flexibility as the method call is fixed and cannot be changed at runtime.
On the other hand, late binding, also known as dynamic binding or runtime binding, refers to the process of linking a method call to the corresponding method implementation at runtime. This means that the actual method to be called is determined based on the actual type of the object at runtime. Late binding allows for more flexibility as the method call can be changed or overridden at runtime, depending on the actual type of the object. This is particularly useful in scenarios where polymorphism is involved, as it allows different objects to respond differently to the same method call. However, late binding comes with a performance cost as the method resolution is done at runtime, resulting in slightly slower execution compared to early binding.
In summary, the main difference between early binding and late binding lies in the timing of method resolution. Early binding occurs at compile time and is faster but less flexible, while late binding occurs at runtime and is more flexible but slightly slower. The choice between early binding and late binding depends on the specific requirements and constraints of the programming scenario.