What is the difference between early binding and late binding in OOP?

What is the difference between early binding and late binding in OOP?

Early binding and late binding are two concepts in object-oriented programming that refer to the timing of linking a method or function call to its implementation.

Early binding, also known as static binding or compile-time binding, occurs when the method or function call is linked to its implementation during the compilation phase. This means that the compiler determines the specific method or function to be called based on the declared type of the object or variable. Early binding provides faster execution as the binding is resolved at compile-time.

Late binding, also known as dynamic binding or runtime binding, occurs when the method or function call is linked to its implementation during the runtime or execution phase. This means that the specific method or function to be called is determined at runtime based on the actual type of the object or variable. Late binding allows for more flexibility and extensibility as it enables polymorphism and method overriding.

In summary, the main difference between early binding and late binding in OOP is the timing of linking a method or function call to its implementation. Early binding occurs at compile-time, while late binding occurs at runtime.