Object Oriented Programming Questions
Method overloading and method overriding are both concepts in object-oriented programming (OOP) that involve the use of methods, but they have distinct differences.
Method overloading refers to the ability to define multiple methods with the same name but different parameters within a class. These methods can have different data types, different numbers of parameters, or both. The compiler determines which method to execute based on the arguments passed during the method call. Method overloading allows for flexibility and code reusability, as it provides different ways to perform similar operations.
On the other hand, method overriding occurs when a subclass provides a specific implementation of a method that is already defined in its superclass. The method in the subclass must have the same name, return type, and parameters as the method in the superclass. By overriding a method, the subclass can modify or extend the behavior of the inherited method. Method overriding is a fundamental feature of inheritance in OOP, allowing for polymorphism and dynamic method dispatch.
In summary, the main difference between method overloading and method overriding is that method overloading involves multiple methods with the same name but different parameters within a class, while method overriding occurs when a subclass provides a specific implementation of a method that is already defined in its superclass.