What are some practical use cases for function overloading?

What are some practical use cases for function overloading?

Function overloading allows multiple functions with the same name to coexist, differing by parameters. Common use cases include mathematical operations, where you might want to add integers, floats, or even complex numbers with the same function name.

Can you give me an example in Python?

Sure! In Python, you can use default arguments to achieve a similar effect. For instance, you can define a function def add(a, b=0): which allows you to call add(5) or add(5, 10).

What about in C++?

In C++, you can directly overload functions. For example, you can have int add(int a, int b) and double add(double a, double b) as two separate functions with the same name but different parameter types.

Are there any downsides to using function overloading?

Yes, while function overloading can improve code readability, it can also lead to ambiguity if not managed properly, especially if the parameter types are similar.