What are virtual functions in C++? Explain how they enable polymorphism and dynamic method dispatching.

In C++, virtual functions play a crucial role in achieving polymorphism and dynamic method dispatching. They allow a program to determine the appropriate function to be executed based on the type of the object at runtime. Virtual functions enable code to be written in a more generic and flexible manner, facilitating the implementation of inheritance hierarchies and allowing objects of derived classes to be treated as objects of their base class. Let's explore the concept of virtual functions, their role in achieving polymorphism, and how they enable dynamic method dispatching. 1. Virtual Functions: A virtual function is a member function declared in a base class that can be overridden by a derived class. By marking a member function as virtual in the base class, you indicate that it can have different implementations in the derived classes. The derived classes can override the virtual function to provide their own specific implementation while maintaining the same function signature. To declare a virtual function, use the `virtual` keyword in the base class. The derived classes can override the virtual function usin....