method overloading

noun

UK /ˈmɛθəd ˌəʊvəˈləʊdɪŋ/

US /ˈmɛθəd ˌoʊvərˈloʊdɪŋ/

Using the same name for several actions that take different inputs.

The programmer used method overloading to give the same name to functions that add two numbers and three numbers.

SYNONYMS

function overloading operation overloading name reuse signature variation

RELATED WORDS

polymorphism method signature parameter list compile-time binding object-oriented programming

OTHER MEANINGS

2. A programming technique where multiple methods share a name but differ in the number or types of their parameters.

Method overloading lets a class define several versions of a print method for different data types.

3. The practice of giving several routines the same identifier so the compiler can choose the right one based on arguments.

The compiler resolves method overloading at compile time by matching the argument types.

4. In some languages, a form of static polymorphism achieved through multiple method signatures.

Java supports method overloading as a kind of static polymorphism.