Browse by Domains

Method Overloading in Java with Examples

Method overloading in java is a feature that allows a class to have more than one method with the same name, but with different parameters.

Java supports method overloading through two mechanisms:

  1. By changing the number of parameters
  2. By changing the data type of parameters Overloading by changing the number of parameters A method can be overloaded by changing the number of parameters.

What is Method overloading in Java?

“Method overloading is a feature of Java in which a class has more than one method of the same name and their parameters are different.”

In other words, we can say that Method overloading is a concept of Java in which we can create multiple methods of the same name in the same class, and all methods work in different ways. When more than one method of the same name is created in a Class, this type of method is called the Overloaded Method. Before moving ahead, if you wish to brush up your Java skills, you can take up a Java programming for beginners that will help you learn the foundations.

We can easily understand about method of overloading by the below example:

Suppose we have to write a method to find the square of an integer number. We can write this method as follows:

public void intSquare ( int number ) 
{
 int square = number * number;
 System.out.printIn("Method with Integer Argument Called:"+square);
}

Suppose we want to find the square of 10, then to find the square of 10, we can call this method as follows:

 intSquare(5);

Now, if we want to find the Square of a double type value, then we have to create another Square () method as follows:

public void doubleSquare(double number)
{
 double square = number * number; 
 System.out.printIn("Method with double Argument Called:"+square);
}

Similarly, if we want to find the square of long type value, then we have to create another method as follows:

public void longSquare(long number)
{ 
long square = number * number;
System.out.printIn("Method with long Argument Called:"+square);
}

If we look carefully, to find the square of a number only, according to the data type of the number, we have to take three names as follows:

intSquare()

doubleSquare()

longSquare()

If it is possible that a programmer has to take only one name and the program itself decides which method to use for which type of value, then it will be easier for the programmer to get the same. There is no need to memorise the names of more than one method for type work. In Java, we can give the above three methods the same name.

If we provide only the square () name instead of giving different names to the above three methods and write the rest of the description as follows, then Java’s Compiler does not generate any error.

public void Square ( int number ) 
{
 int square = number * number;
 System.out.printIn(“Method with Integer Argument Called:“+square);
 }
public void Square(double number)
 {
 double square = number * number; 
System.out.printIn(“Method with double Argument Called:“+square);
}
public void Square(long number)
 { 
long square = number * number;
System.out.printIn(“Method with long Argument Called:“+square);
}

If we define these three methods in a class, then these methods can be called Overloaded Methods as they have the same name. Let us develop CalculateSquare Class to understand this, which is as follows:

class CalculateSquare
 { 
public void square()
 { 
System.out.println("No Parameter Method Called");
 } 
public int square( int number )
 {
int square = number * number;
System.out.println("Method with Integer Argument Called:"+square); 
}
public float square( float number ) 
{
 float square = number * number;
 System.out.println("Method with float Argument Called:"+square); 
}
public static void main(String[] args)
  {
    CalculateSquare obj = new CalculateSquare();
    obj.square();
    obj.square(5);   
    obj.square(2.5);   
  }
 }

Note: We have not provided any argument in the ‘parenthesis’ of the square() method in our program. In this case, the Compiler Class calls the method in which no Parameter has been defined to achieve the Argument.

Output:

No Parameter Method Called 

Method with Integer Argument Called: 25

Method with float Argument Called: 6.25

In this way, we can define more than one Methods of the same name in a class, which is called Method Overloading, and 

The Java compiler itself performs the appropriate Method Call for an object, based on the Data Type of the Arguments of the Methods.

Benefits of using Method Overloading

  • Method overloading increases the readability of the program.
  • This provides flexibility to programmers so that they can call the same method for different types of data.
  • This makes the code look clean.
  • This reduces the execution time because the binding is done in compilation time itself.
  • Method overloading minimises the complexity of the code.
  • With this, we can use the code again, which saves memory.

How to do Method Overloading?

In java, we do method overloading in two ways:

  1. By changing the number of parameters.
  2. By changing data types.
  • Change the number of arguments:

In the example below, we have two methods, the first method has two arguments, and the second method has three arguments.

class Demo
{
  void multiply(int a, int b)
  {
    System.out.printIn("Result is"+(a*b)) ;
  }
  void multiply(int a, int b,int c)
  {
    System.out.printIn("Result is"+(a*b*c));
  }
  public static void main(String[] args)
  {
    Demo obj = new Demo();
    obj.multiply(8,5);   
    obj.multiply(4,6,2);   
  }
}

Output:- 

Result is 40 

Result is 48.

  • By Changing the data types: 

In the example given below, we have two methods, and their data types are different.

class Sum
{  
static int add(int a, int b)
{
return a+b;
}  
static double add(double a, double b)
{
return a+b;
}  
}  
class TestOverloading2
{  
public static void main(String[] args)
{  
System.out.println(Sum.add(17,13));  
System.out.println(Sum.add(10.4,10.6));  
}
}

Note: In this example, we are creating static methods so that we don’t need to create an instance for calling methods.

Output:

30, 21

Some points to remember about method overloading:

  • Method overloading cannot be done by changing the return type of methods.
  • The most important rule of method overloading is that two overloaded methods must have different parameters.

Method overloading has nothing to do with return-type.

If there are two methods of the same signature within a class in the program, then Ambiguity Error comes, whether their return-type is different or not. This means that method overloading has no relation with return-type.

class Sample{
	int disp(int x){
		return x;	
	}
	double disp(int y){
		return y;
	}
	public static void main(String args[])
{
	Sample s = new Sample();
	System.out.printIn("Value of x : " + s.disp(5));
	System.out.printIn("Value of y : " + s.disp(6.5));
	}  
}

Output:

Sample.java:6: error: method disp(int) is already defined in class Sample

In this way, we can define more than one Methods of the same name in a class called Method Overloading. The Java Compiler itself, based on the Data Type of the Arguments of the Methods,  performs the appropriate method call for an object. 

This brings us to the end of the blog on Method Overloading in Java. Hope this helps you to up-skill your C++ skills. To learn more about programming and other related concepts, check out the courses on Great Learning Academy

Also, if you are preparing for Interviews, check out these Interview Questions for Java to ace it like a pro.

Also Read: How to make Resume for Java Developer

Engaging in the study of Java programming suggests a keen interest in the realm of software development. For those embarking upon this journey with aspirations towards a career in this field, it is recommended to explore the following pages in order to acquire a comprehensive understanding of the development career path:

Software engineering courses certificates
Software engineering courses placements
Software engineering courses syllabus
Software engineering courses fees
Software engineering courses eligibility
Avatar photo
Great Learning Team
Great Learning's Blog covers the latest developments and innovations in technology that can be leveraged to build rewarding careers. You'll find career guides, tech tutorials and industry news to keep yourself updated with the fast-changing world of tech and business.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top