Elixir protocols are a way to achieve polymorphism by defining a set of functions that types must implement. Use protocols to create generic functions that can operate on different data types.

Elixir protocols provide a powerful mechanism for achieving polymorphism and defining behavior that can be implemented by multiple types. A protocol specifies a set of functions that types must implement, allowing you to create generic functions that can operate on various data structures. To define a protocol, use the defprotocol macro, specifying the function signatures that any implementing type must provide. For example, you might define a protocol for serialization that requires an encode function. Once the protocol is defined, you can implement it for specific data types using the defimpl macro. This allows you to customize the behavior for each type while maintaining a consistent interface. Protocols are particularly useful in Elixir for defining operations that should work across different data structures, such as converting data to JSON or printing custom representations of structs. By leveraging protocols, you can enhance code reuse and maintainability, as they allow you to write generic functions without worrying about the specific details of each data type. This flexibility is one of the many strengths of Elixir's design, making it easier to create extensible and adaptable code.