Which of the following allows multiple classes to share a method in object-oriented programming?

The correct answer is related to how multiple classes can utilize a shared method, showcasing a fundamental principle of object-oriented programming. Polymorphism allows methods to be used via interfaces or base classes, thereby enabling different classes to implement those methods in their specific ways. This means that you can have a single method call that can operate on objects of different classes as if they are instances of a common superclass or interface.

In this context, polymorphism is particularly evident in method overriding, where a subclass provides a specific implementation of a method that is already defined in its superclass. This promotes code flexibility and reusability, as the same method name can perform different functions depending on the object type that invokes it.

The other concepts, while important in object-oriented programming, serve different purposes. Encapsulation focuses on restricting access to certain components and ensuring that objects manage their own state. Abstraction deals with hiding complex implementation details and exposing only the necessary parts through an interface. Inheritance allows one class to inherit properties and methods from another, which can seem related but does not inherently facilitate shared method access across multiple classes in the same way that polymorphism does.