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of which method to invoke is made based depending on the arguments that are
on the actual type of the object. Runtime supplied to the method. A class can
is the period of time that a computer’s have numerous methods with the same
processor executes a compiled name but different parameters or distinct
program. During this time, the CPU types of parameters, this is what method Chapter Four: Object oriented programming with C++
FOR ONLINE READING ONLY
executes out the program’s instructions, overloading can do in OOP. Because
communicates with memory and other several versions of the method can be
system resources, and generates the called based on the unique data types
desired output. or values provided as arguments, this
enables more flexible and intuitive code.

(d) Method overloading behaviour in In this case, Python does not support
polymophism method overloading by default.
Method overloading is a concept in The decision on which method to
object-oriented programming that execute is made at compile time, based
permits the coexistence of multiple on the method signature.
methods in a class with the same name but
different parameters. As a result, a class Compile-time polymorphism, sometimes
may have more than one method with the referred to as static polymorphism, is a
same name, but each method must have type of method overloading. It offers
a unique set of parameters. One type of convenience and flexibility in method
polymorphism is method overloading, invocation by enabling a class to have
which allows for the definition of many
methods in a class with the same name many methods with the same name but
but distinct parameters. Depending on distinct capabilities. Compile time is the
the arguments given, the compiler or period of time that a compiler uses to
interpreter decides which version of the translate a program’s source code into
method to execute when a call is made. machine code or an intermediate form.
As an example, imagine we have a class The activities done during compile time,
named Calculator. are the compiler to do syntax checking,
type checking, and code optimisation.
There may be more than one “add”
method in this class, and the parameter Exercise 4.4
types used by each method may vary.
We can, for instance, take two different 1. Give an example of how
“add” methods: one that accepts three polymorphism can improve code
integer parameters and returns their reusability and maintainability
sum, and another that accepts three 2. Imagine a class named “Animal”
double parameters and returns their with a method “makeSound()”.
sum. Various behaviors are allowed In Object-Oriented Programming

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Student’s Book Form Five

Computer Science Form 5.indd 219 23/07/2024 12:33