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C++ Operator Overloading Explained

Operator overloading in C++ allows users to define how operators behave for user-defined types like classes and structures. Unary operators require no arguments and operate on a single object, while binary operators take one argument and operate on two. Certain operators, such as class member access and scope resolution, cannot be overloaded, but the original meaning of overloaded operators remains intact.

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37 views2 pages

C++ Operator Overloading Explained

Operator overloading in C++ allows users to define how operators behave for user-defined types like classes and structures. Unary operators require no arguments and operate on a single object, while binary operators take one argument and operate on two. Certain operators, such as class member access and scope resolution, cannot be overloaded, but the original meaning of overloaded operators remains intact.

Uploaded by

mihiree22b1713
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© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Operator Overloading

We stated earlier that one of the aims of C++ is to create user-de ned data types such as
class, that behave very similar to the built-in types.
This means that we should be able to perform operations on objects much the same way
as on an ordinary variable.

In C++, we can change the way operators work for user-de ned types like objects and
structures. This is known as operator overloading. For example,

Syntax:
//outside the class
return type classname :: operator op(all the arguments){
//Function body
}

//inside the class


return type operator op(all the arguments){
//Function body
}
fi
fi
Overloading unary operators
- In unary operator function, no arguments should be passed. It works only with one
class object. It is the overloading of an operator operating on a single operand.

Overloading binary operators


- In binary operator overloading function, there should be one argument to be passed. It
is overloading of an operator operating on two operands.

Although the semantics of an operator can be extended, we cannot change its syntax,
the grammatical rules that govern its use such as the number of operands, precedence
and associativity. For example, the multiplication operator will enjoy higher precedence
than the addition operator.
Remember, when an operator is overloaded, its original meaning is not lost. For instance,
the operator +, which has been overloaded to add two fractions, can still be used to add
two integers.

Operators that can’t be overloaded


- We can overload (give additional meaning to) all the C++ operators except the
following:

• Class member access operators (. , .*)


• Scope resolution operator (::)
• Size operator (sizeof)
• Conditional operator (? :)

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