Hello, learner! In today's exciting chapter, we will explore Polymorphism, a prominent feature of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP). Specifically, we will study its role in maintaining backward compatibility while introducing new features. Think of it as a software update that introduces new functions without breaking the older functionality — ingenious, isn't it?

Polymorphism, a principle that derives from the Greek words 'poly' (many) and 'morphism' (forms), enables a function or class in C++ to handle different types and forms. In C++, polymorphism is often achieved through the use of virtual functions and method overriding.

Consider a base class Bird with a virtual method fly(). If we create derived classes like Sparrow, Penguin, and Ostrich, we can override the fly() method for certain subclasses. This demonstrates polymorphism in action.