Operator Overloading

Introduction

• Operator overloading
➢ Enabling C++’s operators to work with class objects
➢ Using traditional operators with user-defined objects
➢ Examples of already overloaded operators
• Operator << is both the stream-insertion operator and the
bitwise left-shift operator
• Operator >> is both the stream-extraction operator and the
bitwise right-shift operator
➢ Compiler generates the appropriate code based on the
manner in which the operator is used.
 Introduction (Cont…)
• Overloading an operator
– Write function definition as normal
– Functionname is keywordoperator followed bythe symbol for the
operator being overloaded
– For e.g., operator+ used to overload the addition operator
(+)
• Using operators
– To use an operator on a class object, it must be overloaded unless the
assignment operator (=) or the address operator (&)
• Assignment operator by default performs memberwise assignment
• Address operator (&) by default returns the address of an object
 Restrictions on Operator Overloading
• Overloading restrictions
– Precedence of an operator cannot be changed
– Associativity of an operator cannot be changed
– number of operands cannot be changed
• Unary operators remain unary, and binary operators remain binary
• Operators &, *, + and - each have unary and binary versions
• Unary and binary versions can be overloaded separately
• No new operators can be created
– Use only existing operators
• No overloading operators for built-in types
– Cannot change how two integers are added
– Produces a syntax error
What are Operators in C++?
• Arithmetic Operators: +, −, /, ∗, %
• Assignment Operators: +=,+=, −=,−=, /=,/=, ∗=,∗=, %=%=
• Relational Operators: ==,==, !=,!=, >=,>=, <=,<=,etc.
• Logical Operators: &&,&&, ∣∣,∣∣, !!
• Bitwise Operators: &,&, ∣,∣, >>, <<etc.
• Other Operators: sizeof, ?:,etc.
 Restrictions on Operator Overloading
• All the C++ operators can be overloaded except the following:
• Scope Resolution Operator (::)
• Conditional Operator (? :)
• Size Operator (sizeof)
• Class Member Access Operators (. and .*)
 Operator Functions as Class Members vs. as friend Functions

• Operator functions can be either member or non- member

functions of a class.
• Operator functions as member functions
– Leftmost operand must be an object of the class
• Operator functions as non-member functions
– Must be friend functions of the class
– Enables the operator to be commutative

Note: If left operand is of a different type than class, operator function must be a non-member function
C++ Syntax for Operator Overloading
• class ClassName{
•
• private:
• ...............
•
public:
• ...............
•
• <ReturnType> operator <operator> (arguments){
• ...............
• ...............
• }
• ...............
• };
 Creating a Member Operator Function

returntype classname::operator opname(arg-list)

{
// operations
} Keyword
 Unary Operators
• The unary operators operate on a single operand and
following are the examples of Unary operators −

➢ The increment (++) and decrement (--) operators.

➢ The unary minus (-) operator.
➢ The logical not (!) operator.
Overloading of Unary Operator - (using member function)
#include <iostream> Distance::Distance()
using namespace std; {
class Distance feet = 0;
{ inches = 0;
private: }
int feet;
int inches; Distance::Distance(int f, int i)
public: {
//Default constructor feet = f;
Distance(); inches = i;
//Parameterized constructor }
Distance(int , int )
// method to display distance void distance::displayDistance()
void distance::displayDistance() ; {
// overloaded unary minus (-) operator cout << "F: " << feet << " I:" << inches <<endl;
Distance operator- () }
};
 Continued…
Distance Distance::operator- ()
{
feet = -feet;
inches = -inches;
return Distance(feet, inches);
}

int main()
{
Distance D1(11, 10), D2(-5, 11);
-D1; // activates operator-() function
D1.displayDistance(); // D1display Output:
-D2; // activates operator-() function F: -11 I:-10 F: 5 I:-11
D2.displayDistance(); // display D2
return 0;
}
 Binary Operators
• The binary operators take two arguments.

• Binary operators are used very frequently like

addition (+) operator, subtraction (-) operator
and division (/) operator.
 Overloading Binary Operators
#include <iostream> loc operator+(loc op2);
using namespace std; };
class loc {
int longitude, latitude; // Overload + for loc
public: loc loc::operator+(loc op2)
//constructors {
loc() { loc temp;
} temp.longitude = op2.longitude + longitude;
loc(int lg, int lt) { temp.latitude = op2.latitude + latitude;
longitude = lg; return temp;
latitude = lt; }
}
void show()
{
cout << longitude << " ";
cout << latitude << "\n";
}
 Continued…
int main()
{
loc ob1(10, 20), ob2( 5, 30);
ob1.show(); // displays 10 20
ob2.show(); // displays 5 30
ob1 = ob1 + ob2;
/*equivalent to
Output:
ob1=ob1.operator+(ob2);*/
10 20
ob1.show(); // displays 15 50
5 30
return 0;
15 50
}
 Overloading +, -(binary) and ++(unary)
#include <iostream> loc operator+(loc op2);
using namespace std; loc operator-(loc op2);
class loc { loc operator=(loc op2);
int longitude, latitude; loc operator++();
public: };
loc() {} // constructors // Overload + for loc
loc(int lg, int lt) { loc loc::operator+(loc op2)
longitude = lg; {
latitude = lt; loc temp;
} temp.longitude = op2.longitude + longitude;
void show() { temp.latitude = op2.latitude + latitude;
cout << longitude << " "; return temp;
cout << latitude << "\n"; }
}
 Continued…
// Overload - for loc int main()
loc loc::operator-(loc op2) {
{ loc ob1(10, 20), ob2( 5, 30), ob3(90, 90);
loc temp; ob1.show();
// notice order of operands ob2.show();
temp.longitude = longitude - op2.longitude; ++ob1;
temp.latitude = latitude - op2.latitude; ob1.show(); // displays 11 21
return temp; ob2 = ++ob1;
} ob1.show(); // displays 12 22
// Overload asignment for loc ob2.show(); // displays 12 22
loc loc::operator=(loc op2) ob1 = ob2 = ob3; // multiple assignment
{ ob1.show(); // displays 90 90
longitude = op2.longitude; ob2.show(); // displays 90 90
latitude = op2.latitude; return 0;
return *this; // i.e., return object that generated call }
} Output:
// Overload prefix ++ for loc 10 20
loc loc::operator++() 5 30
{ 11 21
longitude++; 12 22
latitude++; 12 22
return *this; 90 90
}
Overloading using Friend Functions
• There are certain situations where we would like to use a
friend function rather than a member function.
• For example, if we want to use two different types of a binary
operator, say, one an object and another a built in type as
shown below:
A=B+2, where A and B are objects of same class. This will
work for a member function, but the statement A=2+B; will
not work.
• This is because the left-handed operand which is responsible
for invoking the membership function should be an object of
the same class.
• Friend function allows both approaches as it is invoked
without the use of objects.
 Continued…
• Unary operators, overloaded by means of a member function,
take no explicit arguments, but, those overloaded by means
of a friend function, take one reference argument (the object
of the relevant class).

• Binary operators overloaded through a member function take

one explicit argument and those which are overloaded
through a friend function take two explicit arguments.

• When using binary operators overloading through member

function, the left hand operand must be an object of the
relevant class.
 Example
#include <iostream> friend loc operator+(loc op1, loc op2);
using namespace std; // now a friend
class loc { };
int longitude, latitude; /*Now, + is overloaded using friend function*/
public: loc operator+(loc op1, loc op2)
loc() {} // constructors {
loc(int lg, int lt) { loc temp;
longitude = lg; temp.longitude = op1.longitude + op2.longitude;
latitude = lt; temp.latitude = op1.latitude + op2.latitude;
} return temp;
void show() { }
cout << longitude << " ";
cout << latitude << "\n";
}
 Continued…
int main()
{
loc ob1(10, 20), ob2( 5, 30);
ob1 = ob1 + ob2;
ob1.show();
return 0;
} Output:
15 50
Restrictions on application of friend function
• Operators that can not be overloaded using a friend
function are:
= Assignment operator
() Function call operator
[] Subscript operator
-> Class Member Access Operator
 Overloading new and delete
// Allocate an object // Delete an object
void *operator new(size_t void operator delete(void
size) *p)
{ {
/* Perform allocation. /* Free memory pointed to
Throw bad_alloc on failure. by p.
Constructor called Destructor called
automatically. */ automatically. */
return pointer_to_memory; }
}
 Example
#include <iostream> // new overloaded relative to loc
using namespace std; void *loc::operator new(size_t size)
class loc { {
int longitude, latitude; void *p;
public: cout << "In overloaded new.\n";
loc() {} p = malloc(size);
loc(int lg, int lt) return p;
longitude = lg; }
latitude = lt; // delete overloaded relative to loc
} void loc::operator delete(void *p)
void show() { {
cout << longitude << " "; cout << "In overloaded delete.\n";
cout << latitude << "\n"; free(p);
} }
void *operator new(size_t size);
void operator delete(void *p);
};
 Continued…
int main()
{
loc *p1, *p2;

p1 = new loc (10, 20);

p2 = new loc (-10, -20);
}
p1->show();
p2->show();
delete p1;
delete p2;
return 0;
}
 Overloading [ ] operator
• In C++, the [ ] is considered a binary operator when you are
overloading it.

• Therefore, the general form of a member operator[ ]( ) function is as

shown here:
returntype classname::operator[](int i)
{
// . . .
}

• Technically, the parameter does not have to be of type int, but an

operator[ ]( ) function is typically used to provide array subscripting,
and as such, an integer value is generally used.

• Given an object called obj, the expression obj[3] translates into this
call to the operator[ ]( ) function: obj.operator[](3)
 Example 1
#include <iostream> int operator[](int i)
using namespace std; { return a[i];
class atype { }
int a[3]; };
public: int main()
atype(int i, int j, int k) { {
a[0] = i; atype ob(1, 2, 3);
a[1] = j; cout << ob[1]; // displays 2
a[2] = k; return 0;
} } Output:
2
 Example 2
#include <iostream> int main()
using namespace std; {
class atype { atype ob(1, 2, 3);
int a[3]; cout << ob[1]; // displays 2
public: cout << " ";
atype(int i, int j, int k) { ob[1] = 25; // [] on left of =
a[0] = i; cout << ob[1]; // now displays 25
a[1] = j; return 0;
a[2] = k; }
}
Output:
int &operator[](int i) {
return a[i]; 2 25
}
};
 Overloading ()
• When we overload the ( ) function call operator, we are
not creating a new way to call a function.

• Rather, you are creating an operator function that can be

passed an arbitrary number of parameters.

Example:
double operator()(int a, float f, char *s);
and an object O of its class, then the statement
O(10, 23.34, "hi");
translates into this call to the operator( ) function.
O.operator()(10, 23.34, "hi");
 Example
#include <iostream>
using namespace std; // Overload + for loc
class loc { loc loc::operator+(loc op2)
int longitude, latitude; {
public: loc temp;
loc() {} temp.longitude = op2.longitude + longitude;
loc(int lg, int lt) temp.latitude = op2.latitude + latitude;
{ return temp;
longitude = lg; }
latitude = lt;
}
void show() { int main()
cout << longitude << " "; {
cout << latitude << "\n"; loc ob1(10, 20), ob2(1, 1);
} ob1.show();
loc operator+(loc op2); ob1(7, 8); // can be executed by itself
loc operator()(int i, int j); ob1.show();
}; ob1 = ob2 + ob1(10, 10); // can be used in expressions
// Overload ( ) for loc ob1.show();
loc loc::operator()(int i, int j) return 0;
{ }
longitude = i;
latitude = j;
return *this;
}
 Overloading the Comma Operator
#include <iostream> cout << op2.longitude << " " << op2.latitude << "\n";
using namespace std; return temp;
class loc { }
int longitude, latitude; // Overload + for loc
public: loc loc::operator+(loc op2)
loc() {} {
loc(int lg, int lt) { loc temp;
longitude = lg; temp.longitude = op2.longitude + longitude;
latitude = lt; temp.latitude = op2.latitude + latitude;
} return temp;
void show() { }
cout << longitude << " "; int main()
cout << latitude << "\n"; {
} loc ob1(10, 20), ob2( 5, 30), ob3(1, 1);
loc operator+(loc op2); ob1.show();
loc operator,(loc op2); ob2.show();
}; ob3.show();
// overload comma for loc cout << "\n";
loc loc::operator,(loc op2) ob1 = (ob1, ob2+ob2, ob3);
{ ob1.show(); // displays 1 1, the value of ob3
loc temp; return 0;
temp.longitude = op2.longitude; }
temp.latitude = op2.latitude;
 Overloading ->
• The –> pointer operator, also called the class member access operator,
is considered a unary operator when overloading.

• Its general usage is shown here:

object->element;
• Here, object is the object that activates the call. The operator–>( )
function must return a pointer to an object of the class that operator–>(
) operates upon.

• The element must be some member accessible within the object.

• The example illustrates overloading the –> by showing the equivalence

between ob.i and ob–>i when operator–>( ) returns this pointer:
 Example
• #include <iostream> using int main()
namespace std; class {
myclass { myclass ob;
• public: ob->i = 10;
• int i; // same as ob.i
• myclass *operator->() cout << ob.i << " " << ob->i;
• { return 0;
• return this; }
• }
• }; Output:
10 10
 Type Conversions
• When constants and variables of different types are mixed in an
expression, C++ applies automatic type conversion to the operand
as per certain rules. Similarly, an assignment operator also causes
the automatic type conversion.
• The type conversions are automatic as long as the data types
involved are built-in types.

❑ What happens when they are user defined data types?

❑ What if one of the operands is an object and the other is built-in
type variable?
❑ What if they belong to two different classes?
 Continued…
• Since the user-defined data types are designed by us to suit our
requirements, the compiler does not support automatic type
conversions for such data types.

• Three type of situations might arise in the data conversion

between uncompatible types:
➢ Conversion from basic type to class type
➢ Conversion from class type to basic type
➢ Conversion from class type to class type
 Basic to Class Type
• In this type of conversion, the source type is basic type and the
destination type is class type, i.e. basic data type is converted into
the class type.

• The conversion from basic type to the class type can be

performed in two ways:

➢ Using constructor
➢ Using Operator Overloading
 Example (Using Constructor)
// Program to convert basic type to class type using constructor
int main()
#include <iostream>
{
using namespace std;
int duration;
class Time { cout<<"Enter time duration in minutes";
int hrs, min; cin>>duration;
public: Time t1=duration;
t1.display();
Time (int);
return 0;
void display(); }
};
Time :: Time (int t)
{
During type conversion using the
cout<<"Basic Type to ==> Class Type Conversion..."<<endl;
constructor we can pass only one
hrs=t/60;
argument and we can do type
min=t%60; conversion at the type of
} initialization only.
void Time::display()
{ cout<<hrs<< ": Hours(s)" <<endl; cout<<min<< " Minutes" <<endl;
}
 Using Operator Overloading
• Type conversion from basic to class type can also be done by
operator overloading.

• Assignment operator can be overloaded for this purpose.

• Previous example of Time class can be rewritten for type

conversion using operator overloading concept to overload the
assignment operator (=).
 Example
// Program to convert from basic type to class type using operator overloading
#include<iostream>
using namespace std;
class Time {
int hrs, min;
public:
void display();
void operator=(int); // overloading function
};
void Time::display()
{
cout<<hrs<< ": Hour(s) "<<endl ; cout<<min<<": Minutes"<<endl ;
}
void Time::operator=(int t)
{
cout<<"Basic Type to ==> Class Type Conversion..."<<endl;
hrs=t/60;
min=t%60;
}
 Continued
…
int main()
{
Time t1;
int duration;
cout<<"Enter time duration in minutes";
cin>>duration;
cout<<"object t1 overloaded assignment..."<<endl;
t1=duration; //or, t1.operator=(duration);
t1.display();
return 0;
} By using overloaded
assignment operator we can
perform the type conversion at
any place in program.
 Class to Basic Type
• In this type of conversion the source type is class type and the
destination type is basic type, i.e. class data type is converted into
the basic type.
• The constructor functions do not support this operation.
• It requires special casting operator function.
• The syntax for an overloaded casting operator function, usually
referred to as a conversion function, is:

operator typename( )
{
//Function statements
}
 Continued…
• The conversion function should satisfy the following condition:

➢ It must be a class member.

➢ It must not specify the return value.
➢ It must not have any argument.
 Example
#include<iostream>
using namespace std;
class Time
{
int hrs, min;
public:
Time (int ,int); // constructor
operator int(); // casting operator function
~Time() // destructor
{
cout<<"Destructor called..."<<endl;
}
};
Time::Time (int a,int b)
{
cout<<"Constructor called with two parameters..."<<endl;
hrs=a;
min=b;
}
 Continued…
Time :: operator int()
{
cout<<"Class Type to Basic Type Conversion..."<<endl;
return(hrs*60+min);
}
int main()
{
int h, m, duration;
cout<<"Enter Hours ";
cin>>h; cout<<"Enter Minutes ";
cin>>m;
Time t(h,m); // construct object
duration = t; // casting conversion OR duration = (int)t
cout<<"Total Minutes are "<<duration;
cout<<"2nd method operator overloading "<<endl;
duration = t.operator int();
cout<<"Total Minutes are "<<duration;
return 0;
}
 Class to Class Type
• In this type of conversion both the type that is source type and
the destination type are of class type.

• Conversion from one class to another class can be performed

either by using the constructor or type conversion function.
 Example
//Program to convert class Time to another class Minute
#include<iostream> int getMinutes()
using namespace std; {
class Time int tot_min = ( hrs * 60 ) + min ;
return tot_min;
{
}
int hrs, min;
public: void display()
Time(int h,int m) {
{ cout<<"Hours: "<<hrs<<endl ;
cout<<" Minutes : "<<min <<endl ;
hrs=h;
}
min=m; };
}
Time()
{
cout<<"\n Time's Object Created";
}
 Continued…
class Minute int main()
{ {
int min; Time t1(2,30);
public: t1.display();
Minute m1;
Minute()
m1.display();
{ m1 = t1; // conversion from Time to Minute
min = 0; t1.display();
} m1.display();
void operator=(Time T) return 0;
}
{
min=T.getMinutes();
}
void display()
{
cout<<"\n Total Minutes : " <<min<<endl;
}
};
 Continued…
int main()
{
Time t1(2,30);
t1.display();
Minute m1;
m1.display();
m1 = t1; // conversion from Time to Minute
t1.display();
m1.display();
return 0;
}
Type Conversions Summary

Conversion Conversion takes place in

required Source Class Destination Class
Basic to Class Not Applicable Constructor

Class to Basic Casting Operator Not Applicable

Class to Class Casting Operator Constructor

Thanks