Description
The Source code below shows how to use OperatorOverloading in C#. Operator Overloading is pretty useful concept derived from C++ by C#.For eg.
We can have class Matrix which hold 2D array of elements.C# add doest not Allows us to do Addition, Subtraction of matrices using the +,- operator rather We use to write Methods AddMatrix(),SubMatrix() with the use of Operator.
Overloading we make the user to code it:
M3=M1+M2 where M1 and M2 are matrix objects.
Some Tips while using Operator overloading:
- While OverLoading a Operator always give public static access specifiers.
- Operator Overloading should return a CLS type and not void.
- Atleast one operand to the operator must be of type UDC [User Defined Class] because we cannot overload a operator with two int operands and perform subtraction for + operator which C# does not allow.
- Relational Operators are overloaded in Pairs only.ie if == is overloaded then So !=.
- Same Operator can be overloaded with different function signature for eg.
public static Matrix operator +(Matrix m1,int[,] m2)
{
}
we can also one more method like this:
public static Matrix operator + (Matrix m1,Matrix m2)
{
}
Please find to the code which uses overloading of almost all operators.
Source Code:
// Source Code starts
using System;
class Square
{
private double Side;
//public Constructor if int is passed convert to double and assign to Side
public Square(int s)
{
Console.WriteLine(".ctor with int argument");
Side=(double)s;
}
//OverLoaded constructor with double argument
public Square(double s)
{
Console.WriteLine(".ctor with double argument");
Side=s;
}
//override ToString() method of object class.
public override string ToString()
{
Console.WriteLine("Override object class's string");
return this.Side.ToString();
}
//Overloading + operator to add 2 square objects and return new square object
public static Square operator + (Square x,Square y)
{
Console.WriteLine("Overloading + with Square,Square");
return new Square(x.Side+y.Side);
}
//Overloading + operator to add square objects with double side and return new square object
public static Square operator + (Square x,double y)
{
Console.WriteLine("Overloading + with Square,double");
return new Square(x.Side+y);
}
//Overloading + operator to add square objects with int side and return new square object
//This is not necessary since C# automatically calls +(Square,double)
public static Square operator + (Square x,int y)
{
Console.WriteLine("Overloading + with Square,int");
return x +(double)y;
}
public static implicit operator Square(double s)
{
Console.WriteLine("Overloading = for Square s5=1.5 assignment");
return new Square(s);
}
public static implicit operator Square(int s)
{
Console.WriteLine("Overloading = for Square s5=10 assignment");
return new Square((double)s);
}
//OverLoading == operator
public static bool operator ==(Square x,Square y)
{
Console.WriteLine("Overloading == with Square,Square");
return x.Side==y.Side;
}
//OverLoading != operator
public static bool operator !=(Square x,Square y)
{
Console.WriteLine("Overloading != with Square,Square");
return !(x==y); //This will call to operator == simple way to implement !=
}
//Always override GetHashCode(),Equals when overloading ==
public override bool Equals(object o)
{
return this==(Square)o;
}
public override int GetHashCode()
{
return (int)Side;
}
//OverLoading > operator
public static bool operator >(Square x,Square y)
{
Console.WriteLine("Overloading > with Square,Square");
return x.Side>y.Side;
}
//OverLoading < operator
public static bool operator <(Square x,Square y)
{
Console.WriteLine("Overloading < with Square,Square");
return x.Side<y.Side;
}
//OverLoading <= operator
public static bool operator <=(Square x,Square y)
{
Console.WriteLine("Overloading <= with Square,Square");
return (x<y) || (x==y); //Calls to operator == and <
}
//OverLoading >= operator
public static bool operator >=(Square x,Square y)
{
Console.WriteLine("Overloading >= with Square,Square");
return (x>y) || (x==y); //Calls to operator == and >
}
//Readonly Property
public double Area
{
get
{
return 2*Side;
}
}
public static void Main()
{
Square s1=new Square(10);
Square s2=new Square(20);
Square s3=s1+s2; // This will call operator + (Square,Square)
Console.WriteLine(s3);
Console.WriteLine(s3+15); // This will call operator + (Square,int) and then ToString()
Console.WriteLine(s3+1.5);// This will call operator + (Square,double) and then ToString()
s3=10; // This will call operator Square(int)
Console.WriteLine(s3);
Square s4=10;
Console.WriteLine(s1==s4); //Calls == operator
Console.WriteLine(s1!=s4); //Calls != operator
Console.WriteLine(s1>s2); //Calls > operator
Console.WriteLine(s1<=s4); //Calls <= operator
}
}
// Source Code End