What are the limitations of function overloading in Python?

What are the limitations of function overloading in Python?

In Python, function overloading is not supported in the traditional sense. You can define multiple functions with the same name, but only the last one defined will be used.

Why doesn't Python support traditional function overloading?

Python's design philosophy emphasizes simplicity and readability. Allowing multiple functions with the same name could lead to confusion and make the code harder to understand.

Are there any workarounds for function overloading in Python?

Yes, you can use default arguments, variable-length arguments, or type checking within a single function to achieve similar behavior.

Can you give an example of using default arguments for overloading?

Sure! You can define a function with default parameters to handle different types of input. For example:

def add(a, b=0):
    return a + b

This allows you to call add(5) or add(5, 10).

What are the best practices for handling similar situations in Python?

It's best to use clear function names that describe their purpose, and leverage default or variable-length arguments to handle different cases.