Java Method Overloading.

Java Method Overloading

• Method overloading is the ability to define multiple methods with the same name in a class.
• Compiler selects the proper method from those who are overloaded during compilation.
• Compiler picks the correct method based on the number and type of all the parameters passed to the method.
• Differentiation only in return type between methods does not provide overloaded methods.
  Method Overloading example:

  public class MethodOverloading {
  // 1. printlist for integers (overloaded method)
    public void printList(Integer[] list) {
      for (Object o : list) {
        System.out.println(o);
      }
    }
  // 2. printlist for strings (overloaded method)
    public void printList(String[] list) {
      for (String o : list) {
        System.out.println(o);
      }
    }
  
    public static void main(String args[]) {
      String[] priceCat = {"Low", "Middle", "High"};
      // this will use the 2. printlist method
      new MethodOverloading().printList(priceCat);
      Integer[] prices = {56, 66, 78};
       // this will use the 1. printlist method
      new MethodOverloading().printList(prices);
    }
  }

  The result of this is:

  Low
  Middle
  High
  56
  66
  78

  You can download this example here (needed tools can be found in the right menu on this page).