Polymorphism in C# Explained — Types, Patterns and Real-World Use

using System;

public class AuditLogger
{
    // Overload 1: Simple message log
    public void Log(string message)
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"[INFO] {DateTime.Now:HH:mm:ss} — {message}");
    }

    // Overload 2: Message with a severity level — same name, different signature
    public void Log(string message, string severity)
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"[{severity.ToUpper()}] {DateTime.Now:HH:mm:ss} — {message}");
    }

    // Overload 3: Log an exception directly — compiler picks this when an Exception is passed
    public void Log(Exception exception)
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"[ERROR] {DateTime.Now:HH:mm:ss} — {exception.GetType().Name}: {exception.Message}");
    }
}

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        var logger = new AuditLogger();

        // Compiler resolves this to Overload 1
        logger.Log("User login successful");

        // Compiler resolves this to Overload 2
        logger.Log("Disk space below 10%", "warning");

        // Compiler resolves this to Overload 3
        logger.Log(new InvalidOperationException("Payment gateway timed out"));
    }
}

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

// Abstract base — there's no such thing as a generic 'payment', so we make it abstract
public abstract class PaymentMethod
{
    public string AccountReference { get; }

    protected PaymentMethod(string accountReference)
    {
        AccountReference = accountReference;
    }

    // Abstract method — every payment type MUST implement this
    public abstract decimal CalculateProcessingFee(decimal orderTotal);

    // Virtual method — has a sensible default, but subclasses CAN override it
    public virtual string GetReceiptLabel()
    {
        return $"Payment via {GetType().Name} (ref: {AccountReference})";
    }

    // Non-virtual — this behaviour never changes regardless of payment type
    public void PrintReceipt(decimal orderTotal)
    {
        decimal fee = CalculateProcessingFee(orderTotal);  // polymorphic call
        Console.WriteLine(GetReceiptLabel());               // polymorphic call
        Console.WriteLine($"  Order total : £{orderTotal:F2}");
        Console.WriteLine($"  Processing  : £{fee:F2}");
        Console.WriteLine($"  Grand total : £{orderTotal + fee:F2}");
        Console.WriteLine();
    }
}

public class CreditCardPayment : PaymentMethod
{
    private readonly bool _isPremiumCard;

    public CreditCardPayment(string cardReference, bool isPremiumCard)
        : base(cardReference)
    {
        _isPremiumCard = isPremiumCard;
    }

    // Credit cards charge 1.5% — 0.8% for premium cards
    public override decimal CalculateProcessingFee(decimal orderTotal)
    {
        decimal rate = _isPremiumCard ? 0.008m : 0.015m;
        return Math.Round(orderTotal * rate, 2);
    }

    public override string GetReceiptLabel()
    {
        string tier = _isPremiumCard ? "Premium" : "Standard";
        return $"{tier} Credit Card (ref: {AccountReference})";
    }
}

public class BankTransferPayment : PaymentMethod
{
    public BankTransferPayment(string sortCodeRef) : base(sortCodeRef) { }

    // Bank transfers are flat fee — not percentage-based
    public override decimal CalculateProcessingFee(decimal orderTotal)
    {
        return 0.25m;  // flat 25p regardless of order size
    }
    // Note: GetReceiptLabel() is NOT overridden — it uses the base default
}

public class CryptoPayment : PaymentMethod
{
    private readonly string _networkName;

    public CryptoPayment(string walletRef, string networkName) : base(walletRef)
    {
        _networkName = networkName;
    }

    // Crypto fees vary by network congestion — simulated here as 2%
    public override decimal CalculateProcessingFee(decimal orderTotal)
    {
        return Math.Round(orderTotal * 0.02m, 2);
    }

    public override string GetReceiptLabel()
    {
        return $"Crypto ({_networkName}) — wallet: {AccountReference}";
    }
}

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        // The list holds the BASE TYPE — we don't care which concrete type is inside
        var checkoutPayments = new List<PaymentMethod>
        {
            new CreditCardPayment("VISA-4242", isPremiumCard: false),
            new CreditCardPayment("AMEX-0001", isPremiumCard: true),
            new BankTransferPayment("20-44-53"),
            new CryptoPayment("0xA1B2C3", "Ethereum")
        };

        decimal orderTotal = 150.00m;

        // Same call — PrintReceipt — but each payment type does its own thing
        foreach (PaymentMethod payment in checkoutPayments)
        {
            payment.PrintReceipt(orderTotal);
        }
    }
}

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

// The contract — any type that implements this becomes 'exportable'
public interface IReportExporter
{
    string FormatName { get; }
    void Export(IEnumerable<string> reportRows, string destinationPath);

    // C# 8+ default interface method — provides fallback without breaking old implementors
    void PrintExportSummary(string destinationPath)
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"  [{FormatName}] Export complete → {destinationPath}");
    }
}

public class PdfExporter : IReportExporter
{
    public string FormatName => "PDF";

    public void Export(IEnumerable<string> reportRows, string destinationPath)
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"Generating PDF with {System.Linq.Enumerable.Count(reportRows)} rows...");
        // Real implementation would use a PDF library like iTextSharp
        PrintExportSummary(destinationPath);
    }
}

public class CsvExporter : IReportExporter
{
    public string FormatName => "CSV";
    private readonly char _delimiter;

    public CsvExporter(char delimiter = ',')
    {
        _delimiter = delimiter;
    }

    public void Export(IEnumerable<string> reportRows, string destinationPath)
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"Writing CSV (delimiter: '{_delimiter}') with {System.Linq.Enumerable.Count(reportRows)} rows...");
        PrintExportSummary(destinationPath);
    }
}

public class JsonExporter : IReportExporter
{
    public string FormatName => "JSON";

    public void Export(IEnumerable<string> reportRows, string destinationPath)
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"Serialising {System.Linq.Enumerable.Count(reportRows)} rows to JSON...");
        // Overrides the default summary to add JSON-specific detail
        Console.WriteLine($"  [JSON] Minified export → {destinationPath}");
    }

    // Override the default interface method with a custom version
    public void PrintExportSummary(string destinationPath)
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"  [JSON] Minified export → {destinationPath}");
    }
}

// This class only knows about IReportExporter — it's completely decoupled from PDF/CSV/JSON
public class ReportingService
{
    private readonly IReportExporter _exporter;  // depends on the interface, not the concrete type

    // The concrete exporter is injected — swap it without touching this class
    public ReportingService(IReportExporter exporter)
    {
        _exporter = exporter;
    }

    public void RunMonthlyReport()
    {
        var salesData = new List<string>
        {
            "January,North,£42,500",
            "January,South,£31,200",
            "January,East,£28,900"
        };

        Console.WriteLine($"Running monthly report using: {_exporter.FormatName}");
        _exporter.Export(salesData, "/reports/monthly-2024-01");
        Console.WriteLine();
    }
}

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        // Swap the exporter — ReportingService never needs to change
        var services = new List<ReportingService>
        {
            new ReportingService(new PdfExporter()),
            new ReportingService(new CsvExporter(delimiter: ';')),
            new ReportingService(new JsonExporter())
        };

        foreach (var service in services)
        {
            service.RunMonthlyReport();
        }
    }
}

using System;

public class Notification
{
    // NOT marked virtual — this is the problem
    public string GetDeliveryChannel()
    {
        return "Base: Generic channel";
    }

    // This one IS virtual — safe for polymorphism
    public virtual string GetMessagePreview()
    {
        return "Base: Default message preview";
    }
}

public class PushNotification : Notification
{
    // 'new' hides the base method — does NOT participate in polymorphism
    public new string GetDeliveryChannel()
    {
        return "Derived: Push via APNs/FCM";
    }

    // 'override' replaces the base method — true polymorphism
    public override string GetMessagePreview()
    {
        return "Derived: Push preview — tap to open";
    }
}

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        PushNotification pushDirect = new PushNotification();
        Notification pushedAsBase = new PushNotification();  // same object, base type reference

        Console.WriteLine("=== Called on derived type directly ===");
        Console.WriteLine(pushDirect.GetDeliveryChannel());  // calls the 'new' hidden method
        Console.WriteLine(pushDirect.GetMessagePreview());   // calls the overridden method

        Console.WriteLine();
        Console.WriteLine("=== Called through base type reference ===");
        // GetDeliveryChannel: hiding — base type reference calls BASE version, ignores 'new'
        Console.WriteLine(pushedAsBase.GetDeliveryChannel());
        // GetMessagePreview: override — base type reference still calls DERIVED version
        Console.WriteLine(pushedAsBase.GetMessagePreview());
    }
}