Operator Overloading in C++

Operator Overloading in C++

• Operators can be overloaded to perform specific operations on custom classes rather than built-in types.
• Commonly overloaded operators include +, -, *, /, % for arithmetic operations.
• Overloaded operators are defined as functions with the operator keyword followed by the operator symbol.
• Example: operator+ for overloading the addition operator.

Creating Overloaded Operators

• Define a function with the operator keyword, followed by the operator symbol.
• The function name is operator+, operator-, etc. for arithmetic or other operators.
• The function's parameters match the operands.

Example: Arithmetic Class

• This Arithmetic class demonstrates operator overloading for a custom data type.
• Instance variables (num) store integer values.
• Arithmetic operators (+, -, etc.) are overloaded as member functions inside the class.
• The function definition takes an Arithmetic object (b) as a parameter to perform required operation on that operand.
• The main() function creates Arithmetic objects and uses the overloaded operators.
• These arithmetic operators are used in main to add, subtract, multiply, divide, modulo, and increment variables and print the results.

Example: Location Class (Operator Overloading)

• This class defines locations with longitude and latitude.
• Operator overloading allows the + operator to add locations.
• Operators are overloaded as member functions or as stand-alone friend functions.
• Friend functions have access to private members for complex operations.
• The main() function demonstrates how to define location objects, use the + operator, and prints coordinates.

Example: Binary Arithmetic

• This Binary_Arithmetic class handles binary numbers.
• Includes conversion between binary and decimal numbers.
• Operator functions for arithmetic (+, -, *, /, %) are included alongside arithmetic operators in order to perform arithmetic computations.
• The main function demonstrates how to create Binary_Arithmetic objects and perform calculations.

Restrictions on Operator Overloading

• Some operators cannot be overloaded (like ::, ?:, sizeof, .).
• Operator precedence cannot be changed through overloading.
• The number of operands for an operator cannot be adjusted.
• Overloading changes how an operator operates on custom objects, not basic types.

Operator Functions as Class Members or Friends

• Operator functions can be either member functions or friend functions of a class.
• Member functions use this implicitly, passing the object itself.
• Non-member functions (friend functions) must take the class objects as parameters explicitly.
• The choice affects which operator operand is handled by whom.

Explore the concept of operator overloading in C++ through this quiz. Understand how to define overloaded operators for custom classes, perform arithmetic operations, and implement these operators within a user-defined class. Test your knowledge on the syntax and examples of using operator overloading effectively.