Method Overloading in Java Interview Questions and Answers for 10 years experience

1. What is method overloading in Java?

   • Answer: Method overloading is a feature in Java where multiple methods within the same class have the same name but different parameter lists (either different number of parameters or different data types of parameters). The compiler distinguishes between overloaded methods based on the number and types of arguments passed during the method call.

2. Explain the difference between method overloading and method overriding.

   • Answer: Method overloading occurs within the same class, while method overriding occurs between a parent class and a child class. Overloading involves methods with the same name but different parameter lists. Overriding involves methods with the same name and parameter list, but different implementations in the subclass.

3. Can overloaded methods have different return types?

   • Answer: Yes, overloaded methods can have different return types, but the difference must be in the parameter list as well. The compiler needs to distinguish between the methods based on the arguments, not solely the return type.

4. Can overloaded methods have the same number of parameters but different types?

   • Answer: Yes, this is a common way to overload methods. The compiler will determine which method to call based on the types of arguments provided.

5. What happens if you try to overload a method with the same name, parameter types, and return type?

   • Answer: This will result in a compilation error. The compiler will not be able to distinguish between the methods.

6. Explain the role of the compiler in resolving overloaded method calls.

   • Answer: The compiler examines the arguments passed during a method call and matches them with the parameter lists of the available overloaded methods. If an exact match is found, that method is invoked. If there's no exact match, or multiple potential matches, the compiler will issue a compilation error.

7. What is the significance of method overloading in terms of code reusability?

   • Answer: Method overloading promotes code reusability by allowing a single method name to perform different tasks based on the input parameters. This leads to more concise and readable code.

8. Provide an example of method overloading with variable number of arguments (varargs).

   • Answer: ```java public class OverloadVarargs { public void printNumbers(int... numbers) { for (int number : numbers) { System.out.print(number + " "); } System.out.println(); } public static void main(String[] args) { OverloadVarargs ov = new OverloadVarargs(); ov.printNumbers(1, 2, 3); ov.printNumbers(10, 20, 30, 40, 50); ov.printNumbers(); //No arguments } } ```

9. How does method overloading impact polymorphism?

   • Answer: Method overloading is a form of compile-time polymorphism. The compiler decides which method to call at compile time based on the arguments provided.

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