Method Overloading - EduardoMSU/OOP-2143 GitHub Wiki
Method overloading is a feature in object-oriented programming where multiple methods can have the same name but differ in the number or type of parameters. It allows a class to define more than one method with the same name, enabling different behaviors based on the input provided. Method overloading helps in improving code readability and reusability.
| Characteristic | Description |
|---|---|
| Same Method Name | Overloaded methods share the same name but differ in the type, number, or order of their parameters. |
| Compile-Time Polymorphism | Overloading is a type of compile-time polymorphism, meaning the appropriate method is chosen at compile time based on the method signature. |
| Different Parameter Types | The parameters in overloaded methods must differ in either the number of parameters or the types of parameters. |
| No Return Type Overloading | Methods cannot be overloaded solely based on return type. The method signature must differ in parameters. |
| Method Selection | The correct version of an overloaded method is selected by the compiler based on the arguments passed during the method call. |
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class Printer {
public:
// Method to print an integer
void print(int i) {
cout << "Printing Integer: " << i << endl;
}
// Method to print a string
void print(string s) {
cout << "Printing String: " << s << endl;
}
// Method to print two integers
void print(int i, int j) {
cout << "Printing Two Integers: " << i << ", " << j << endl;
}
};
int main() {
Printer printer;
// Calling overloaded methods
printer.print(5); // Calls print(int)
printer.print("Hello"); // Calls print(string)
printer.print(3, 4); // Calls print(int, int)
return 0;
}