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Difference between method Overloading and Overriding Search this website

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BY CHAITANYA SINGH | FILED UNDER: OOPS CONCEPT

In this tutorial we will discuss the difference between overloading and overriding in Java. If you are
new to these terms then refer the following posts:

1. Method overloading in java

2. Method overriding in java

Overloading vs Overriding in Java

1. Overloading happens at compile-time while Overriding happens at runtime: The binding of
overloaded method call to its de nition has happens at compile-time however binding of
overridden method call to its de nition happens at runtime.
2. Static methods can be overloaded which means a class can have more than one static method
of same name. Static methods cannot be overridden, even if you declare a same static method
in child class it has nothing to do with the same method of parent class.
3. The most basic difference is that overloading is being done in the same class while for
overriding base and child classes are required. Overriding is all about giving a speci c
 implementation to the inherited method of parent class.
4. Static binding is being used for overloaded methods and dynamic binding is being used for
overridden/overriding methods.
5. Performance: Overloading gives better performance compared to overriding. The reason is that
the binding of overridden methods is being done at runtime.
6. private and nal methods can be overloaded but they cannot be overridden. It means a class
can have more than one private/ nal methods of same name but a child class cannot override
the private/ nal methods of their base class.
7. Return type of method does not matter in case of method overloading, it can be same or
different. However in case of method overriding the overriding method can have more speci c
return type (refer this).
8. Argument list should be different while doing method overloading. Argument list should be
same in method Overriding.

Overloading example
//A class for adding upto 5 numbers
class Sum
{
int add(int n1, int n2)
{
return n1+n2;
}
int add(int n1, int n2, int n3)
{
return n1+n2+n3;
}
int add(int n1, int n2, int n3, int n4)
{
return n1+n2+n3+n4;
}
int add(int n1, int n2, int n3, int n4, int n5)
{
return n1+n2+n3+n4+n5;
 }
public static void main(String args[])
{
Sum obj = new Sum();
System.out.println("Sum of two numbers: "+obj.add(20, 21));
System.out.println("Sum of three numbers: "+obj.add(20, 21, 22));
System.out.println("Sum of four numbers: "+obj.add(20, 21, 22, 23));
System.out.println("Sum of five numbers: "+obj.add(20, 21, 22, 23, 24));
}
}

Output:

Sum of two numbers: 41

Sum of three numbers: 63
Sum of four numbers: 86
Sum of five numbers: 110

Here we have 4 versions of same method add. We are overloading the method add() here.

Overriding example
package beginnersbook.com;
class CarClass
{
public int speedLimit()
{
return 100;
}
}
class Ford extends CarClass
{
public int speedLimit()
{
return 150;
}
public static void main(String args[])
{
 CarClass obj = new Ford();
int num= obj.speedLimit();
System.out.println("Speed Limit is: "+num);
}
}

Output:

Speed Limit is: 150

Here speedLimit() method of class Ford is overriding the speedLimit() method of class CarClass.

Enjoyed this post? Try these related posts

1. Tag or marker interfaces in Java
2. Java – Static Class, Block, Methods and Variables
3. Hierarchical Inheritance in java with example program
4. Java Access Modi ers – Public, Private, Protected & Default
5. Final Keyword In Java – Final variable, Method and Class
6. Java – static variable with example

Comments

siva devara says

SEPTEMBER 27, 2014 AT 8:05 PM
Thank you sir

Reply

Sujitha says
NOVEMBER 15, 2014 AT 5:50 AM

Thank you!!!!!!!!Easy to Understand

Reply

Mariyappa says
NOVEMBER 7, 2014 AT 8:11 AM

Is 7th point is correct?

Reply

Chaitanya Singh says

NOVEMBER 28, 2014 AT 4:47 AM

Yes It is.
 Reply

jemima says
NOVEMBER 26, 2014 AT 3:45 PM

hi sir,
I’m not sure whether I’m correct i studied both method overloading and overridding then
I’m studying there difference..i think the 7th point is incorrect.. it states “Return type of
overloaded method should be same as the other methods of the same name however
return type of overriding method can be different from overridden method.” and i think it
must be ” the return type of overloading methods can differ but the return type of
overriding methods should be the same..”… if im wrong plz help me to identify my
mistake .
thank u so much

Reply

Chaitanya Singh says

NOVEMBER 28, 2014 AT 4:43 AM

Hello Jemima,

Point#7 is correct, overridden methods can have different return types. You can
refer http://stackover ow.com/questions/14694852/can-overridden-methods-
differ-in-return-type.
 Reply

Kelele says
NOVEMBER 30, 2014 AT 8:04 AM

i think overridden must have the return type

Reply

RAJ says
DECEMBER 17, 2014 AT 12:31 PM

For the 7th point `Return type of overloaded methods should be same`. Is it always
necessary for methods to be overloaded?
What about this example?

public String getData(){

return “Employe from Manager”;
}
public int getData(String val){
return 0;
}

Reply
 vishal says
DECEMBER 30, 2014 AT 12:09 PM

what is the use of super keyword while we are overiding a function can you please
explain..

Reply

Ramesh Kumar says

JANUARY 5, 2016 AT 5:05 PM

super keyword calls the parent class method

Reply

Yogesh says
JANUARY 14, 2015 AT 8:19 AM

I like ur explanation ……

Reply

pragati says
 MARCH 4, 2015 AT 1:31 PM

thanks sir

Reply

Arpitha says
APRIL 9, 2015 AT 10:26 AM

Can u please explain me 7th point ? I think it is wrong right? return type doesn’t matter
in case of overloading and return type should be same for method overriding.

Reply

Abiola says
OCTOBER 29, 2015 AT 2:09 PM

nice way of teaching cant believe it. am learning java just like that.

Reply

Akshay pattar says

JUNE 9, 2016 AT 5:20 PM
 CarClass obj = new Ford();

plz answer
y cant we write it as
carclass obj = new car ();

Reply

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