Understanding method overriding is important for creating flexible software for a few key reasons:

1. Better Polymorphism

Method overriding lets a child class use a specific version of a method that is already in its parent class. This means that the same method can act differently based on what type of object is being used.

For example, think about these two classes:

• Animal:

  class Animal {
      void makeSound() {
          System.out.println("Some sound");
      }
  }
  

• Dog:

  class Dog extends Animal {
      void makeSound() {
          System.out.println("Bark");
      }
  }
  

When we call makeSound() on a Dog object, it shows "Bark" instead of "Some sound".

2. Reusing Code

With method overriding, developers can build on existing code without changing the original version. This makes it easier to reuse code and follows the idea of "Don't Repeat Yourself" (DRY).

3. Easier to Maintain

Using method overriding wisely makes software easier to maintain. This means if we need to change or add something in the future, we can just extend the classes, making updates much simpler.

In short, method overriding not only improves polymorphism but also makes code reusable and easier to maintain. This helps create more adaptable software systems.