Fri 2004-07-09 09:49, Neil Heller (1:106/2000) wrote to All:

 NH> Yesterday I was asked to give a simple definition of polymorphism.

Polymorph roughly means "many shapes".  Any more drilling down
will depend on the context.  In C++ I think it primarily refers to the
ability of having member functions of the same name acting differently
depending on the type of data being passed to them - or no data at all. 
Function overloading.  This can then can extend to operator overloading if
the need arises.
 
 NH> Does the STL exhibit polymorphism?

I can't really think how it might.  The vector container should act the
same regardless of the datatype its given, for example.  I think this is
the whole idea behind templated functions.  They generally have a fixed
behaviour.

 NH> Can anyone tell me a definitive and authoritative (and possibly 
 NH> verifiable) source that I can use?  The last four words are the key to 
 NH> that sentence.

Well, what for?  Are you trying to win a bet?  :-)

-- mail{at}ozzmosis.com

--- timEd/FreeBSD 1.11.b1