What are some practical examples of operator overloading in C++?

What are some practical examples of operator overloading in C++?

Operator overloading in C++ allows you to define custom behavior for operators. For example, you can overload the '+' operator to add two objects of a class.

Can you give me a specific example of a class that uses operator overloading?

Sure! Consider a 'Complex' class for complex numbers. You can overload the '+' operator to add two Complex objects like this:

Complex operator+(const Complex &c) {
    return Complex(real + c.real, imag + c.imag);
}

What about other operators? Are there any common ones that are overloaded?

Yes, common operators that are often overloaded include '-', '*', '/', and '<<' for output streams. Each can be customized to fit the class's needs.

Are there any performance considerations when using operator overloading?

Yes, while operator overloading can make code more intuitive, it can also introduce overhead if not implemented carefully. It's important to ensure that overloaded operators are efficient.