Discover the Secrets of Method Overriding in Python!

Method overriding in Python allows a child class to redefine a method that already exists in its parent class. It’s a key part of object-oriented programming that helps developers customize behavior, promote reusability, and make code more flexible. By using method overriding, you can extend or modify inherited methods without changing the original class structure. 

In this guide, you’ll read more about what method overriding in Python means, how it works, and the rules you must follow. You’ll also explore the difference between overriding and overloading, practical examples, use of the super() function, and real-world applications that every Python developer should understand. 

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What is Method Overriding in Python? 

At its core, method overriding in Python is a concept tied directly to inheritance. Inheritance is the OOP principle where one class (the child class) inherits attributes and methods from another class (the parent class). Overriding happens when the child class is not satisfied with the implementation of a specific method from the parent and decides to create its own version. 

To put it simply: 

• If a parent class and a child class both have a method with the same name and parameters, the child class method gets executed when called on a child object. 
• The child’s method overrides the parent’s method. 
• Example analogy: 

1. A master chef (parent class) has a generic recipe for make_sauce(). 
2. A junior chef (child class) specializing in Italian food inherits the recipe. 
3. The junior chef overrides make_sauce() to create a version specific to pasta. 

• The method name remains the same, but the implementation is specialized. 

The primary purpose of this is to achieve polymorphism, which means "many forms." It allows objects of different classes to be treated as objects of a common parent class, but still execute their own specific behaviors. 

Also Read: Polymorphism in OOP: What is It, Its Types, Examples, Benefits, & More 

The Building Blocks of Overriding 

To fully grasp the concept, you must be familiar with these terms: 

• Parent Class (Superclass or Base Class): The class whose properties are inherited by another class. 
• Child Class (Subclass or Derived Class): The class that inherits properties from another class. It's in the child class that method overriding in Python takes place. 
• Inheritance: The mechanism by which one class acquires the properties of another. 

Let’s look at a very basic code example to see this in action. 

Python 
# Parent Class 
class Animal: 
    def speak(self): 
        return "Some generic animal sound" 
 
# Child Class 
class Dog(Animal): 
    # Overriding the speak method 
    def speak(self): 
        return "Woof! Woof!" 
 
# Create instances of the classes 
generic_animal = Animal() 
my_dog = Dog() 
 
# Call the speak method on both objects 
print(f"Animal says: {generic_animal.speak()}") 
print(f"Dog says: {my_dog.speak()}") 
 

Output: 

Animal says: Some generic animal sound 
Dog says: Woof! Woof! 
 

In this example, the Dog class inherits from the Animal class. Both classes have a speak() method. When we call speak() on the my_dog object (an instance of Dog), it executes the version of the method defined within the Dog class, not the Animal class. This is a perfect illustration of method overriding in Python. 

How to Implement Method Overriding in Python: A Step-by-Step Guide 

Implementing method overriding in Python is a straightforward process that follows a logical sequence. By following these steps, you can create specialized behavior in your subclasses while maintaining a common interface defined by the superclass. 

Step 1: Define a Parent Class with a Method 

First, you need a base or parent class. This class should contain the method that you intend to override in the child class. This method provides a default implementation. 

Python 
class Employee: 
    def __init__(self, name, salary): 
        self.name = name 
        self.salary = salary 
 
    def get_role(self): 
        return "A general employee in the company." 
 

Here, the Employee class has a get_role() method that returns a generic description. 

Step 2: Create a Child Class that Inherits from the Parent 

Next, define the child class. The syntax for inheritance in Python involves placing the parent class's name in parentheses after the child class's name. 

Python 
class Manager(Employee): 
    # The Manager class will go here 
    pass 
 

The Manager class now inherits all attributes and methods from the Employee class, including get_role(). 

Step 3: Redefine the Method in the Child Class 

This is the core step of method overriding in Python. In the child class, you define a method with the exact same name and signature (number and type of parameters) as the method in the parent class. 

Python 
# Parent Class 
class Employee: 
    def __init__(self, name, salary): 
        self.name = name 
        self.salary = salary 
 
    def get_role(self): 
        return "A general employee in the company." 
 
# Child Class 
class Manager(Employee): 
    # Overriding the get_role method 
    def get_role(self): 
        return "A manager responsible for a team." 
 

Step 4: Create Instances and Observe the Behavior 

Now, let's create objects of both the Employee and Manager classes and call the get_role() method on each. This demonstrates how the overridden method is chosen at runtime. 

Python 
# Create instances 
regular_employee = Employee("John Doe", 60000) 
project_manager = Manager("Jane Smith", 90000) 
 
# Call the get_role method 
print(f"{regular_employee.name}'s role: {regular_employee.get_role()}") 
print(f"{project_manager.name}'s role: {project_manager.get_role()}") 
 
 

Output: 

John Doe's role: A general employee in the company. 
Jane Smith's role: A manager responsible for a team. 
 

As you can see, Python’s Method Resolution Order (MRO) first looks for the get_role() method within the Manager class. Since it finds it there, it executes it. For the regular_employee object, it looks in the Employee class and executes that version. This dynamic selection is the essence of method overriding in Python. 

Also Read: Class in Python 

Using the super() Function with Method Overriding 

Sometimes, you don't want to completely replace the parent class's method. Instead, you might want to add to it or extend its functionality. This is where the super() function becomes incredibly useful in the context of method overriding in Python. 

The super() function gives you access to methods and properties of a parent or sibling class. When used inside an overridden method, it allows you to call the parent class's version of that same method, letting you reuse its code before or after adding new functionality. 

Let's expand on our Employee and Manager example. A manager is still an employee. So, when we ask for their details, we might want to display the standard employee details first and then add the manager-specific information. 

Python 
# Parent Class 
class Employee: 
    def __init__(self, name, employee_id): 
        self.name = name 
        self.employee_id = employee_id 
 
    def display_details(self): 
        print(f"Name: {self.name}") 
        print(f"Employee ID: {self.employee_id}") 
 
# Child Class 
class Manager(Employee): 
    def __init__(self, name, employee_id, team_size): 
        # Call the parent constructor 
        super().__init__(name, employee_id) 
        self.team_size = team_size 
 
    # Overriding the display_details method 
    def display_details(self): 
        print("--- Manager Details ---") 
        # Call the parent class's display_details method 
        super().display_details() 
        # Add new functionality 
        print(f"Team Size: {self.team_size}") 
 
# Create an instance of Manager 
mgr = Manager("Alice Johnson", "MGR101", 12) 
mgr.display_details() 
 

Output: 

--- Manager Details --- 
Name: Alice Johnson 
Employee ID: MGR101 
Team Size: 12 
 

In this improved example: 

1. The Manager's __init__ method uses super().__init__(...) to call the Employee constructor, avoiding code duplication for initializing name and employee_id. 
2. The overridden display_details method in Manager first calls super().display_details() to print the basic employee information. 
3. It then adds its own specific logic by printing the team_size. 

This approach is highly efficient and aligns with the Don't Repeat Yourself (DRY) principle of software development. 

Also Read: Top 50 Python Project Ideas with Source Code in 2025 

Complete Override vs. Extending with super() 

The following table summarizes the difference between a complete override and extending a method. 

Using super() is a key technique when working with method overriding in Python for building robust, layered class hierarchies. 

Also Read: Top 36+ Python Projects for Beginners and Students to Explore in 2025 

Method Overriding vs. Method Overloading: Key Differences 

A common point of confusion for programmers, especially those coming from languages like Java or C++, is the distinction between method overriding and method overloading. While they sound similar, they are fundamentally different concepts. 

Method Overloading refers to defining multiple methods in the same class with the same name but with a different number or type of parameters. The correct method is chosen based on the arguments passed during the call. Python does not support traditional method overloading by default. You can simulate it using default arguments or variable-length argument lists (*args, **kwargs), but it's not a built-in feature based on parameter types. 

Method Overriding, as we've discussed, involves a method in a child class that has the same name and signature as a method in its parent class. 

Here is a table that breaks down the critical differences: 

Understanding this distinction is crucial for writing clear and correct object-oriented code. Method overriding in Python is about specializing behavior across a class hierarchy, while overloading is about providing flexible method calls within a single class. 

Also Read: A Complete Guide To Method Overloading in Python (With examples) 

Real-World Examples of Method Overriding in Python 

Theoretical explanations are helpful, but seeing method overriding in Python in practical scenarios solidifies the concept. Here are a few real-world examples. 

Example 1: Geometric Shapes 

Imagine a graphics application where you need to calculate the area of different shapes. You can have a base Shape class with a default calculate_area method, and specific shape classes can override it. 

Python 
import math 
 
# Parent class 
class Shape: 
    def calculate_area(self): 
        return "Area calculation is not defined for a generic shape." 
 
# Child class 1 
class Circle(Shape): 
    def __init__(self, radius): 
        self.radius = radius 
 
    # Overriding the method 
    def calculate_area(self): 
        return math.pi * (self.radius ** 2) 
 
# Child class 2 
class Rectangle(Shape): 
    def __init__(self, width, height): 
        self.width = width 
        self.height = height 
 
    # Overriding the method 
    def calculate_area(self): 
        return self.width * self.height 
 
# Using the classes 
my_circle = Circle(10) 
my_rectangle = Rectangle(5, 4) 
 
print(f"Area of Circle: {my_circle.calculate_area():.2f}") 
print(f"Area of Rectangle: {my_rectangle.calculate_area()}") 
 

Output: 

Area of Circle: 314.16 
Area of Rectangle: 20 
 

Here, Circle and Rectangle both provide their own specific formula for calculate_area, overriding the placeholder method in the Shape class. This is a classic example of method overriding in Python that enables polymorphic behavior. 

Example 2: Document Rendering 

Consider a system that renders documents in different formats like PDF or HTML. A base Document class can have a render method, which is then overridden by subclasses. 

Python 
# Parent class 
class Document: 
    def __init__(self, content): 
        self.content = content 
 
    def render(self): 
        raise NotImplementedError("Subclass must implement this method") 
 
# Child class 1 
class PdfDocument(Document): 
    def render(self): 
        print(f"Rendering content as a PDF: '{self.content}'") 
 
# Child class 2 
class HtmlDocument(Document): 
    def render(self): 
        print(f"Rendering content as HTML: <p>{self.content}</p>") 
 
# A function that works with any Document type 
def render_document(doc): 
    print("--- Starting document render ---") 
    doc.render() 
    print("--- Render complete ---") 
 
# Create and render documents 
pdf = PdfDocument("This is my CV.") 
html = HtmlDocument("This is a blog post.") 
 
render_document(pdf) 
render_document(html) 
 

Output: 

--- Starting document render --- 
Rendering content as a PDF: 'This is my CV.' 
--- Render complete --- 
--- Starting document render --- 
Rendering content as HTML: <p>This is a blog post.</p> 
--- Render complete --- 
 

The render_document function can work with any object that is a Document subtype, without needing to know its specific type. It simply calls the render() method, and polymorphism ensures the correct version is executed. 

Enhance Your Python Skills with upGrad! 

Method overriding in Python is more than just a language feature; it is a cornerstone of effective object-oriented design. It empowers developers to build flexible and maintainable systems by allowing child classes to customize or extend the behavior inherited from parent classes. By defining methods in a subclass with the same signature as those in the superclass, you leverage the power of polymorphism, making your code cleaner and more intuitive. 

As you strengthen your understanding of OOP concepts like method overriding, applying them in structured, project-based settings is essential. That’s where upGrad comes in, with hands-on courses and expert guidance, it helps you build job-ready expertise. 

• Object Oriented Analysis and Design for Beginners 
• Core Java Basics 
• Java Object-oriented Programming 

Curious about which Python software development course best fits your goals in 2025? Contact upGrad for personalized counseling and valuable insights, or visit your nearest upGrad offline center for more details. 

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