When speaking of c/c++ and java what does "overloading" mean?

[chiwawa626]

When speaking of c/c++ and java what does "overloading" mean?

 

[MacBaine]

It's when you declare two different methods with the same name, using different arguments. The compiler determines which of the two identically named methods to use based on the arguments submitted.

 

[edro]

Yeah, like making the "+" do multiplication or something stupid liek that...

 

[beer]

You can overload functions and operators, based upon the parameters passed to them.

In C, you cannot overload operators. I do believe you can overload functions.

In C++, you can overload operators and fuctions.

You can define a function with the same name, but different parameters. When you call the function, the compiler figures out which function you meant to call, and you can accomplish two different functions with the same function name.

 

[EyeMWing]

MEH. That made no sense and wasn't even technically correct. Brain fart.

See here for example and basic explanation. It works for normal methods and such as well, not just constructors.

 

[notfred]

MacBaine is correct, here's an example:

int myFunction(int a){
return ++a;
}

int myFunction(int a, int b){
return a+b;
}

Two different functions with the same name but different arguments.

 

[StageLeft]

You can do it in visual basic.net now too!

 

[DT4K]

How many vb programmers do you think started dancing in the streets when they found out they would finally get overloading, inheritance, and all the other OO goodies?

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: Shanti
How many vb programmers do you think started dancing in the streets when they found out they would finally get overloading, inheritance, and all the other OO goodies?

Both of them that actually know enough about programming to know what those things are?