Syntax of operator overloading in the C#
The following is the syntax of operator overloading in the C# language.
public static className operator op (parameters)
{
// Code goes here
}
The syntax for operator overloading of Unary Operator :
public static className operator op (x)
{
// Code goes here
}
The following is the syntax of operator overloading of Binary operators.
public static className operator op (x1, x2)
{
// Code goes here
}
Let’s learn Unary and Binary operator overloading in C# with multiple examples.
Unary Operators Overloading in C#
The following example explains how to overload unary operators in C#.
Code:
C#
using System;
namespace OperatorOverloading {
class Calculator { // calculator class
public int number1 , number2;
public Calculator(int num1 , int num2)
{
number1 = num1;
number2 = num2;
}
// following functions will perform operations by changing
// the sign of integers
public static Calculator operator -(Calculator c1)
{
c1.number1 = -c1.number1;
c1.number2 = -c1.number2;
return c1;
}
// function to display/print the numbers
public void Print()
{
Console.WriteLine ("Num1 = " + number1);
Console.WriteLine ("Num2 = " + number2);
}
}
class TestingInMain
{
// Main Function or Driver code starts here
static void Main(String []args)
{
// using overloaded - operator
// with the class object
Calculator calc = new Calculator(28, -12);
calc = -calc;
// printing the result
calc.Print();
}
}
}
Output
Num1 = -28
Num2 = 12
The sign of the numbers is reversed in the above example of unary operator overloading in C#. Now let's learn binary operators overloading.
Binary Operators Overloading in C#
Since two operands are required for binary operators, two parameters will be passed to the function for binary operator overloading in C#. The following example explains how to implement binary operator overloading in C#.
Code:
C#
using System;
namespace OperatorOverloading {
class Calculator { // calculator class
public int number = 0;
// constructor with no-argument
public Calculator() {}
// parameterized constructor
public Calculator(int n)
{
number = n;
}
// Overloading of Binary operator ("+")
public static Calculator operator + (Calculator Cal1, Calculator Cal2)
{
Calculator Cal3 = new Calculator(0);
Cal3.number = Cal2.number + Cal1.number;
return Cal3; //returning the result of same type
}
// function to print result
public void Print()
{
Console.WriteLine("{0}", number);
}
}
class TestingInMain
{
// Main Function or Driver code starts here
static void Main(String []args)
{
Calculator num1 = new Calculator(510);
Calculator num2 = new Calculator(220);
Calculator num3 = new Calculator();
num3 = num1 + num2;
num1.Print(); // Prints 510
num2.Print(); // Prints 220
num3.Print(); // Prints the result i.e. 730
}
}
}
Output:
510
220
730
In the above example, the result is 510+220, which is 730. Let's learn some benefits of operator overloading in C#.
Benefits of Operator Overloading in C#
The following are some benefits of operator overloading in C#:
- When C# operators are applied to user-defined data types, they gain additional capabilities because of operator overloading.
- Operators can be thought of as compiler-internal functions.
- The main benefit of operator overloading is that it allows us to integrate a new class type into our programming environment seamlessly.
Also see, Ienumerable vs Iqueryable
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Operator overloading?
The method to assign more than one operation on the same operator is known as operator overloading.
Which operators are not overloaded in C#?
In C#, operators that cannot be overloaded include assignment (=), member access (.), conditional logical (&&, ||), ternary conditional (?:), null coalescing (??), is, as, sizeof, typeof, nameof, checked, unchecked, new, and default.
What is operator overloading vs overriding in C#?
Operator overloading allows defining custom behavior for operators in C#, while overriding involves providing new implementations for methods in derived classes, using polymorphism principles.
Can comparison operators be overloaded in C#?
Yes, comparison operators like ==, !=, <, >, <=, and >= can be overloaded in C#. This allows custom comparison logic for user-defined types to match specific application needs.
What are access specifiers in C#
Access specifier or modifier is the keyword used to specify the accessibility of a type and its members. The public, private, and internal access specifiers are mainly used in C#.
Conclusion
This article extensively discussed the operator overloading in C#. We learned the syntax of unary and binary operator overloading with multiple examples. We learned some operators of the C# language and their overloading ability.
We hope that this blog has helped you enhance your knowledge regarding operator overloading in C#, and if you would like to learn more, check out our articles in Code360.
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