Operator Overloading

Examples:

• Same operation, different data types:
  + for addition for both integers, real numbers
• Different operations, same type:
  - for subtraction (binary), for negation (unary)
• Different operations, different types:
  * for multiplication (binary), for dereferencing pointers in C++ (unary)

Advantages:

• No need to invent numerous operator symbols. E.g., type-specific addition
• Intuitive (We do not use data types in real life)

Disadvantages:

• Readability Impaired
  • & symbol used for both bitwise AND, Address operator in C++
• Errors Harder to Detect

     doublevar = intvar1 / intvar2;
  

• Writability?