ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Dynamic binding (computing)

Okay kiddo, so let me explain dynamic binding to you in a way you can understand. Imagine you have a toy box with a bunch of different toys in it - a ball, a stuffed animal, and a toy car. You want to play with each toy, but you need to know how to play with them first.

Now, let's say your mom tells you to ask your dad for help with each toy. So, you show your dad the ball and ask him how to play with it. He shows you how to throw it and catch it. Then you show him the stuffed animal and ask him how to play with it. He tells you how to cuddle it and make it talk.

Each time you ask your dad for help with a toy, he is giving you specific instructions on how to play with it. This is like dynamic binding in computing - the program is asking for help from another piece of code (like your dad), and that code provides specific instructions for how to interact with a particular object (like the toy).

Dynamic binding is useful because it makes code more flexible and adaptable - just like how you can play with different toys in different ways depending on how your dad instructs you. By using dynamic binding, programs can access and use different pieces of code (like different toys) in a more efficient and effective way.
Related topics others have asked about: