Operator overloading in C++ enhances code readability and flexibility by allowing developers to redefine how operators behave for user-defined types. This feature empowers classes to handle operations intuitively, similar to built-in data types, making code easier to write and maintain.
There are two main types of operator overloading in C++:
Unary Operator Overloading:
Unary operators, such as +, -, !, and ++, operate on a single operand. Overloading these operators allows for custom behaviors, like negating a value or implementing increment logic specific to a class.
Binary Operator Overloading:
Binary operators, including +, -, *, and ==, work with two operands. Overloading these enables operations like addition or comparison between objects, facilitating intuitive interactions between instances of a class.
// C++ program to show unary
// operator overloading
Overloading Binary Operator:
Unary operators operate on a single operand. Common unary operators include +, -, !, ~, ++, and –.
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class Number {
int value;
public:
Number(int v = 0) : value(v) {}
// Overloading the unary ‘-‘ operator
Number operator-() const {
return Number(-value);
}
void display() const {
cout << “Value: ” << value << endl;
}
};
int main() {
Number num(10);
num.display();
Number neg = -num; // Calls the overloaded ‘-‘
neg.display();
return 0;
}
2. Binary Operator Overloading
Binary operators work with two operands. Examples include +, -, *, /, and ==.
Example: Overloading the binary + operator
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class Complex {
double real, imag;
public:
Complex(double r = 0, double i = 0) : real(r), imag(i) {}
// Overloading the binary ‘+’ operator
Complex operator+(const Complex& obj) const {
return Complex(real + obj.real, imag + obj.imag);
}
void display() const {
cout << real << ” + ” << imag << “i” << endl;
}
};
int main() {
Complex c1(3.5, 2.5), c2(1.5, 4.5);
Complex c3 = c1 + c2; // Calls the overloaded ‘+’
c3.display();
return 0;
}
Output:
5 + 7i
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