What is the Difference Between Early and Late Binding?

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The difference between early and late binding lies in the time at which the compiler resolves the binding between a function call and its definition.

Early Binding:

  • Occurs at compile time.
  • Provides checks for all types, so no implicit casts occur.
  • Results in more efficient and slightly faster function calls.
  • Examples include overloaded function calls and overloaded operators.

Late Binding:

  • Occurs at runtime.
  • Checks types only when the object is created or an action is performed on the type.
  • Allows for more flexibility and dynamic behavior, such as method overriding.
  • Less efficient and slightly slower than early binding.

In summary, early binding is resolved at compile time, providing better efficiency and performance, while late binding is resolved at runtime, allowing for more flexibility and dynamic behavior.

Comparative Table: Early vs Late Binding

Early and late binding are two concepts related to polymorphism in programming languages. The key difference between them is the time at which the method calling is resolved: early binding occurs at compile time, while late binding occurs at runtime. Here is a table comparing the differences between early and late binding:

Early Binding Late Binding
Occurs at compile time Occurs at runtime
Static binding Dynamic binding
Faster execution Slower execution
Uses class information to resolve method calling Uses object to resolve method calling
Binding of static, private, and final methods is done at compile-time Method overriding in subclass is an example of late binding
Overloading methods are bonded using early binding Overridden methods are bonded using late binding

In summary, early binding is a more efficient and faster process, while late binding provides more flexibility and dynamism in the code, allowing for examples like method overriding in subclasses.