Compile-Time Polymorphism

This type of polymorphism is achieved by function overloading or operator overloading.

A. Function Overloading

When there are multiple functions with the same name but different parameters, then the functions are said to be overloaded, hence this is known as Function Overloading. Functions can be overloaded by changing the number of arguments or/and changing the type of arguments. In simple terms, it is a feature of object-oriented programming providing many functions that have the same name but distinct parameters when numerous tasks are listed under one function name. There are certain Rules of Function Overloading that should be followed while overloading a function.

Below is the C++ program to show function overloading or compile-time polymorphism:

C++

// C++ program to demonstrate
// function overloading or
// Compile-time Polymorphism
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
 
using namespace std;
class Geeks {
public:
    // Function with 1 int parameter
    void func(int x)
    {
        cout << "value of x is " << x << endl;
    }
 
    // Function with same name but
    // 1 double parameter
    void func(double x)
    {
        cout << "value of x is " << x << endl;
    }
 
    // Function with same name and
    // 2 int parameters
    void func(int x, int y)
    {
        cout << "value of x and y is " << x << ", " << y
             << endl;
    }
};
 
// Driver code
int main()
{
    Geeks obj1;
 
    // Function being called depends
    // on the parameters passed
    // func() is called with int value
    obj1.func(7);
 
    // func() is called with double value
    obj1.func(9.132);
 
    // func() is called with 2 int values
    obj1.func(85, 64);
    return 0;
}

Output

value of x is 7
value of x is 9.132
value of x and y is 85, 64

Explanation: In the above example, a single function named function func() acts differently in three different situations, which is a property of polymorphism. To know more about this, you can refer to the article – Function Overloading in C++.

B. Operator Overloading

C++ has the ability to provide the operators with a special meaning for a data type, this ability is known as operator overloading. For example, we can make use of the addition operator (+) for string class to concatenate two strings. We know that the task of this operator is to add two operands. So a single operator ‘+’, when placed between integer operands, adds them and when placed between string operands, concatenates them.

Below is the C++ program to demonstrate operator overloading:

CPP

// C++ program to demonstrate
// Operator Overloading or
// Compile-Time Polymorphism
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
 
class Complex {
private:
    int real, imag;
 
public:
    Complex(int r = 0, int i = 0)
    {
        real = r;
        imag = i;
    }
 
    // This is automatically called
    // when '+' is used with between
    // two Complex objects
    Complex operator+(Complex const& obj)
    {
        Complex res;
        res.real = real + obj.real;
        res.imag = imag + obj.imag;
        return res;
    }
    void print() { cout << real << " + i" << imag << endl; }
};
 
// Driver code
int main()
{
    Complex c1(10, 5), c2(2, 4);
 
    // An example call to "operator+"
    Complex c3 = c1 + c2;
    c3.print();
}

Output

12 + i9

Explanation: In the above example, the operator ‘+’ is overloaded. Usually, this operator is used to add two numbers (integers or floating point numbers), but here the operator is made to perform the addition of two imaginary or complex numbers. To know more about this one, refer to the article – Operator Overloading.

C++ Polymorphism

The word “polymorphism” means having many forms. In simple words, we can define polymorphism as the ability of a message to be displayed in more than one form. A real-life example of polymorphism is a person who at the same time can have different characteristics. A man at the same time is a father, a husband, and an employee. So the same person exhibits different behavior in different situations. This is called polymorphism. Polymorphism is considered one of the important features of Object-Oriented Programming.

Tags:

#CPP-OOPs #C++ #CPP

Types of Polymorphism

2. Runtime Polymorphism

Compile-Time Polymorphism

A. Function Overloading

C++

B. Operator Overloading

CPP

C++ Polymorphism

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