operation overloading

noun

UK /ˌɒpəˈreɪʃən ˌəʊvəˈləʊdɪŋ/

US /ˌɑːpəˈreɪʃən ˌoʊvərˈloʊdɪŋ/

When a computer program uses the same name for actions that work in different ways.

Operation overloading lets the plus sign add numbers and also join words together.

SYNONYMS

operator overloading method overloading function overloading name reuse

RELATED WORDS

polymorphism overloading operator method signature

OTHER MEANINGS

2. In programming, giving several functions the same name but different inputs.

The class uses operation overloading so print can take a number or a word.

3. In math software, redefining a symbol like + to work on new kinds of values.

Operation overloading made the + symbol work for fractions too.

4. A feature that lets one command name do different jobs depending on what it is given.

Thanks to operation overloading, the same command can sort numbers or names.