Operator keyword

Question

Operator keyword is combined with other keyword. For example:

public static Widget operator ++(Widget w)
public static explicit operator Fahrenheit(Celsius c)
public static implicit operator int(ThreeD op1)

I wish to know whether there are specific keywords which have to be combined with operator keyword and operator keyword can't itself be used alone.

Maha · Answer

Thank you for your explanation.

Vulpes · Answer

Well an operator always has to return a result and so the type of the result will always accompany it. The type precedes the operator keyword in all cases except when the 'implicit' and 'explicit' operators are being overloaded when it follows these keywords.