Method Overloading vs Method Overriding in Object-Oriented Programming

Method overloading and method overriding are two important concepts in Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) that are often confused with each other. Let's understand the key differences between these two concepts:

Method Overloading

Method overloading is a feature in OOP that allows a class to have multiple methods with the same name but different parameters. The compiler decides which method to call based on the number and type of parameters passed to it. Method overloading is also known as compile-time polymorphism.

Method Overriding

Method overriding, on the other hand, is a feature in OOP that allows a subclass to provide a specific implementation of a method that is already defined in its superclass. When a method in the subclass has the same signature as a method in the superclass, it is said to override the superclass method. Method overriding is also known as runtime polymorphism.

Key Differences

• Method overloading is achieved within the same class, whereas method overriding occurs between a superclass and its subclass.
• Method overloading is resolved at compile-time, while method overriding is resolved at runtime.
• In method overloading, the return type of the method may or may not be different, whereas in method overriding, the return type must be the same.
• Method overloading is possible in a single class, while method overriding requires inheritance.

Understanding the differences between method overloading and method overriding is essential for writing efficient and maintainable object-oriented code.