Swift – Function Overloading
Last Updated :
20 Dec, 2021
In Swift, a function is a set of statements clubbed together to perform a specific task. It is declared using the “func” keyword. We can also set the return type of the function by specifying the data type followed by a return arrow (“->”).
Syntax:
func functionName(parameters) -> returnType {
// body
}
Example:
In the below program, we are printing a string by defining a function that neither contains any parameter nor return type.
Swift
func print()
{
print("GeeksforGeeks")
}
print()
|
Output:
GeeksforGeeks
Function Overloading
Function overloading is the most commonly used feature by developers. This technique allows them to create functions that share some common features like the same name, etc. In Swift, a pair of functions can have the same name provided that they are either different in the number of parameters, the type of at least one corresponding parameter, or the label of at least one corresponding parameter. These functions are known as overloaded functions and this feature is known as function overloading. It provides more flexibility and is useful when we require the same or similar result or functionality.
There are three methods using which we can achieve function overloading in Swift and they are discussed below:
Function Overloading with Different Number of Parameters
Functions that have the same data type of corresponding parameters but are different in the number of parameters they contain are allowed to have the same name of the functions. In the below program, we have three functions of the same name that is printSum but with a different number of parameters. Here, the first function contains two parameters of integer type, the second function contains three parameters of integer type whereas the third function contains four parameters of integer.
Example:
Swift
func printSum(value1: Int, value2: Int)
{
let sum = value1 + value2
print("The sum of", value1, "and",
value2, "is equal to", sum)
}
func printSum(value1: Int, value2: Int, value3: Int)
{
let sum = value1 + value2 + value3
print("The sum of", value1, ",",
value2, "and", value3,
"is equal to", sum)
}
func printSum(value1: Int, value2: Int, value3: Int,
value4: Int)
{
let sum = value1 + value2 + value3 + value4
print("The sum of", value1, ",",
value2, ",", value3, "and",
value4, "is equal to", sum)
}
printSum(value1: 5, value2: 15)
printSum(value1: 5, value2: 15, value3: 25)
printSum(value1: 5, value2: 15, value3: 25, value4: 35)
|
Output:
The sum of 5 and 15 is equal to 20
The sum of 5 , 15 and 25 is equal to 45
The sum of 5 , 15 , 25 and 35 is equal to 80
Function Overloading With the Same Number of Parameters
Functions having the same number of parameters but at least one corresponding parameters are different in data types are allowed to have the same name of the functions. In the below program, we have three functions of the same name that is printSum, although all the functions contain the same number of parameters but have different types. The first function contains two integer type parameters, the second function contains one integer and one float type parameter, and the third function contains two float type parameters.
Example:
Swift
func printSum(value1: Int, value2: Int)
{
let sum = value1 + value2
print("The sum of", value1, "and",
value2, "is equal to", sum)
}
func printSum(value1: Int, value2: Float)
{
let sum = Float(value1) + value2
print("The sum of", value1, "and",
value2, "is equal to", sum)
}
func printSum(value1: Float, value2: Float)
{
let sum = value1 + value2
print("The sum of", value1, "and",
value2, "is equal to", sum)
}
printSum(value1: 5, value2: 15)
printSum(value1: 5, value2: 15.123)
printSum(value1: 5.123, value2: 15.123)
|
Output:
The sum of 5 and 15 is equal to 20
The sum of 5 and 15.123 is equal to 20.123001
The sum of 5.123 and 15.123 is equal to 20.246
Function Overloading With Different Argument Labels
Two functions having the same data type of corresponding parameters and also have the same numbers of parameters but they have different label names are allowed to have the same name of the functions. In the below program, we have three functions of the same name that is printSum, although all the functions contain the same number and type of parameters but have different labels. The first function contains two integer type parameters with value1 and value2 labels, the second function contains two integer type parameters with variable1 and variable2 labels, and the third function contains two integer type parameters with number1 and number2 labels.
Example:
Swift
func printSum(value1: Int, value2: Int)
{
let sum = value1 + value2
print("The sum of", value1, "and",
value2, "is equal to", sum)
}
func printSum(variable1: Int, variable2:Int)
{
let sum = variable1 + variable2
print("The sum of", variable1, "and",
variable2, "is equal to", sum)
}
func printSum(number1: Int, number2: Int)
{
let sum = number1 + number2
print("The sum of", number1, "and",
number2, "is equal to", sum)
}
printSum(value1: 15, value2: 15)
printSum(value1: 30, value2: 30)
printSum(value1: 60, value2: 60)
|
Output:
The sum of 15 and 15 is equal to 30
The sum of 30 and 30 is equal to 60
The sum of 60 and 60 is equal to 120
Overloading Functions According to Return Type
Can we overload functions on the basis of the return type of function only? The answer is No. We cannot overload functions by using different return types for the functions. In other words, if there are at least two functions in a program having the same data type of corresponding parameters and having exactly the same number of parameters then the compiler produces a compile-time error. In the below program the first function has an integer return type and contains two parameters of integer type, the second function has a double return type and contains two parameters of integer type. Moreover, corresponding parameters have the same label. Hence, this is not allowed in Swift.
Example:
Swift
func printSum(value1: Int, value2: Int) -> Int
{
let sum = value1 + value2
return(sum)
}
func printSum(value1: Int, value2:Int) -> Double
{
let sum = value1 + value1
return (Double)(sum)
}
print("The sum of 15 and 25 is equal to",
printSum(value1: 15, value2: 25))
print("The sum of 25 and 35 is equal to",
printSum(value1: 25, value2: 35))
|
Output:
main.swift:28:7: error: ambiguous use of 'printSum(value1:value2:)'
printSum(value1: 15, value2: 25))
^
main.swift:4:6: note: found this candidate
func printSum(value1: Int, value2: Int) -> Int
^
main.swift:15:6: note: found this candidate
func printSum(value1: Int, value2:Int) -> Double
^
main.swift:32:7: error: ambiguous use of 'printSum(value1:value2:)'
printSum(value1: 25, value2: 35))
^
main.swift:4:6: note: found this candidate
func printSum(value1: Int, value2: Int) -> Int
^
main.swift:15:6: note: found this candidate
func printSum(value1: Int, value2:Int) -> Double
^
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