{"id":76948,"date":"2020-02-29T16:03:05","date_gmt":"2020-02-29T10:33:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/techvidvan.com\/tutorials\/?p=76948"},"modified":"2020-02-29T16:03:05","modified_gmt":"2020-02-29T10:33:05","slug":"method-overloading-and-overriding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/techvidvan.com\/tutorials\/method-overloading-and-overriding\/","title":{"rendered":"Java Method Overloading and Overriding – What really differentiates them?"},"content":{"rendered":"

In our last tutorial, we discussed Method Overloading and Method Overriding in Java. Both of them are used to implement polymorphism in Java. But knowing about them is just not enough, you should also know the differences between both of them.<\/p>\n

Today in this article, we will discuss the difference between Method Overloading and Overriding in Java with the help of some examples and programs.<\/p>\n

What is Method Overloading in Java?<\/h3>\n

Though the word \u2018method\u2019<\/strong> remains the same in the case of both method overloading and overriding, the main difference comes from the fact that when they are resolved.<\/p>\n

Method overloading is resolved during the compilation of the program while method overriding is resolved at the time of execution or during the runtime.<\/p>\n

When a class has two or more than two methods which are having the same name but different types of order or number of parameters, it is known as Method Overloading.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Java allows a function to have the same name if it can distinguish them by their number and type of arguments.<\/p>\n

For example, the following functions are different in Java:<\/strong><\/p>\n

float divide(int a, int b){...}<\/pre>\n
float divide( float x, float y){...}<\/pre>\n
float divide (float a,int b) {...}<\/pre>\n
That is, the function divide() taking two int<\/strong> arguments is different from divide() taking two float<\/strong> arguments, and also from divide() taking both int<\/strong> and float<\/strong> arguments.<\/p>\n
This is called function overloading.<\/p>\n
\"Java<\/a><\/p>\n
Why Method Overloading?<\/h4>\n
The main advantage of using method overloading in Java is that it saves time and effort to define a method again and again for performing the same task. In the above example, the three methods are basically performing a division operation.<\/p>\n
The names of the methods are the same but the type and number of parameters are different. Method Overloading also helps to implement the static or compile-time polymorphism in Java.<\/p>\n
Let us take an example of finding the sum of numbers of integer types. Suppose we want to find the sum number of double types. Then, we can use the concept of method overloading. We will create two or more methods with the same name but different parameters.<\/p>\n
Code to illustrate Method\/function overloading:<\/strong><\/p>\n
package com.techvidvan.methodoverriding;\npublic class Addition\n{\n        int add(int a, int b)\n        {\n                return (a + b);\n        }\n        int add(int a , int b , int c)\n        {\n                return (a + b + c) ;\n        }\n        double add(double a , double b)\n        {\n                return (a + b);\n        }\n        double add(int a , double b)\n        {\n                return (a + b);\n        }\n        public static void main( String args[])\n        {\n                Addition ob = new Addition();\n\n                System.out.println(\"Calling add method with two int parameters: \" +ob.add(17, 25));\n                System.out.println(\"Calling add method with three int parameters: \" +ob.add(55, 27, 35));\n                System.out.println(\"Calling add method with two double parameters: \" +ob.add(36.5, 42.8));\n                System.out.println(\"Calling add method with one int and one double parameter: \" +ob.add(11, 24.5));\n        }\n}<\/pre>\n
Output:<\/strong><\/p>\n
Calling add method with two int parameters: 42
\nCalling add method with three int parameters: 117
\nCalling add method with two double parameters: 79.3
\nCalling add method with one int and one double parameter: 35.5<\/div>\n
Method Overloading Rules<\/h4>\n
There are some rules which you need to follow for implementing Method Overloading<\/p>\n
Rule 1: Change the method signature<\/h5>\n
The most important rule for method overloading in Java is to change the method signature. The method signature means a number of parameters, types of parameters and the sequence of parameters. At least one of them should be different in order to overload a method.<\/p>\n
Code Snippet to understand Rule 1:<\/strong><\/p>\n
public class MyClass\n{\n    \t\/\/Overloaded method\n    \tpublic int multiply(int num1, num2)\n    \t{\n    \t    \treturn num1 * num2;\n    \t}\n\n    \t\/\/Overloading method\n    \tpublic int multiply(float num1, int num2)\t\/\/method with different signature\n    \t{\n    \t    \treturn num1 * num2\n    \t}\n}\n<\/pre>\n
Rule 2: Do not consider the Return type of method as a part of the method signature.<\/h5>\n
Never consider that changing only the return type of the method, the method can be overloaded because the return type is not part of the method signature.<\/p>\n
Code Snippet to understand Rule 2:<\/strong><\/p>\n
public class MyClass\n{\n    \t\/\/ Overloaded method\n    \tpublic int multiply(int num1, num2)\n    \t{\n    \t    \treturn num1 * num2;\n    \t}\n\n    \t\/\/ Overloading method\n    \tpublic float multiply(int num1, num2) \/\/Not valid because we only chnaged the return type\n    \t{\n    \t    \treturn num1 * num2;\n    \t}\n}<\/pre>\n
Rule 3: The type of exceptions thrown from the methods are also not considered while overloading a method.<\/h5>\n
The method overloading is not affected by the type of exceptions thrown by the methods. So whether your overloaded method throws the same exception, a different exception, or does not throw an exception; there is no effect on method overloading.<\/p>\n
Code Snippet to understand Rule 3:<\/strong><\/p>\n
public class MyClass\n{\n    \t\/\/ Overloaded method\n    \tpublic int multiply(int num1, num2) throws NullPointerException\n    \t{\n    \t    \treturn num1 * num2;\n    \t}\n\n    \t\/\/ Overloading method\n    \tpublic int multiply(int num1, num2) throws Exception\n    \t\/\/not valid because throwing different type of exception will not lead to method overloadig\n    \t{\n    \t    \treturn num1 * num2;\n    \t}\n}<\/pre>\n
What is Method Overriding in Java?<\/h3>\n
Method Overriding is a feature that allows us to redefine the method in the subclass or derived class which is already defined in its parent class or superclass.<\/p>\n
In any object-oriented programming language, we can implement Method Overriding only when two classes have \u2018is-a\u2019<\/strong> relationship of inheritance between them.<\/p>\n
Which method will be executed depends on the object. If the object of the subclass calls the method, the method of the subclass will override the superclass method and the same method will be executed.<\/p>\n
Otherwise, if the superclass object calls the method, the superclass method will be executed.\"Java<\/a><\/p>\n
Code to illustrate Method\/function overloading:<\/strong><\/p>\n
package com.techvidvan.methodoverriding;\n\/\/Base Class\nclass Parent\n{\n  void view()\n  {\n    System.out.println(\"This is a parent class method\");\n  }\n}\nclass Child extends Parent\n{\n  @Override\n  void view()\n  {\n    System.out.println(\"This is a child class method\");\n  }\n}\n\/\/Driver class\npublic class MethodOverriding\n{\n  public static void main(String args[])\n  {\n    Parent obj = new Parent();\n    obj.view();\n    Parent obj1 = new Child();\n    obj1.view();\n  }\n}<\/pre>\n
Output:<\/strong><\/p>\n
This is a parent class method
\nThis is a child class method<\/div>\n
Here, we can see that a method view() has been overridden in the derived class name Child<\/strong> that is already provided by the base class name Parent<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
When we create the instance of class Child<\/strong> and call the view() method, we see that only derived class view() method executes instead of base class method view() and when we create the instance of class Parent and call the view() method, we see that only base class view() method runs instead of derived class method view().<\/p>\n
So, it is clear that in method overriding, the method is bound to the objects on the runtime which is decided by the JVM<\/strong>. That\u2019s why it is called Run time polymorphism.<\/strong><\/p>\n
Difference between Method Overloading and Overriding in Java<\/h3>\n
After having brief knowledge of both the techniques, now we will compare both of them with several parameters.<\/p>\n
\"Comparison<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Parameter<\/b><\/td>\nMethod Overloading<\/b><\/td>\nMethod Overriding<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Polymorphism<\/strong><\/td>\nMethod Overloading is used to implement Compile time or static polymorphism.<\/span><\/td>\nMethod Overriding is used to implement Runtime or dynamic polymorphism.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Purpose<\/strong><\/td>\nIt is used to expand the readability of the program.<\/span><\/td>\nIt is used to give the specific implementation of the method which is already provided by its base class<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Parameter List<\/strong><\/td>\nParameters of the overloaded function must be different in either number or type in case of method overloading<\/span><\/td>\nThe number of parameters and type of each parameter must be the same in case of method overriding.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Number of Classes<\/strong><\/td>\nIt occurs within the same class<\/span><\/td>\nIt is performed within two classes with an inheritance relationship.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Inheritance<\/strong><\/td>\nIt may or may not be required for Method Overloading<\/span><\/td>\nIt is must for Method Overriding<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Return Type<\/strong><\/td>\nThe return type may or may not be the same, but we have to change the parameter.<\/span><\/td>\nHere, the return type must be either the same or of the covariant type.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
static, final and private methods<\/strong><\/td>\nWe can overload a static, final or private method in Method Overloading<\/span><\/td>\nWe can not override a static, final or private method in Method Overriding<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bond<\/strong><\/td>\nStatic Binding<\/span><\/td>\nDynamic Binding<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Speed<\/strong><\/td>\nIt is fast<\/span><\/td>\nIt is slower<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Signature<\/strong><\/td>\nThe signature must be different<\/span><\/td>\nThe signature must be the same<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Association<\/strong><\/td>\nIt is usually associated with static programs.<\/span><\/td>\nIt is usually associated with object-oriented programs.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Performance<\/strong><\/td>\nOverloading gives better performance than overriding<\/span><\/td>\nLesser\u00a0 Performance than Overloading because the binding of the overridden method is done at the runtime.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Access Modifier<\/strong><\/td>\nAny access modifier can be used while overloading the methods\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nThe level of access should be either the same or with a wider scope.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Exceptions<\/strong><\/td>\nMay throw different exceptions.<\/span><\/td>\nMay reduce or eliminate exceptions. But, must not throw new or broader checked exceptions but can throw narrower checked exceptions.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
Summary<\/h3>\n
Method Overloading and Method Overriding are the two very essential concepts of Object-Oriented Programming. Both are used to support the concept of Polymorphism in Java.<\/p>\n
In this article, we learned about the basic differences between Method overloading and Method Overriding in Java with the help of examples and programs. This article will surely help you to compare both the techniques.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In our last tutorial, we discussed Method Overloading and Method Overriding in Java. Both of them are used to implement polymorphism in Java. 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