Method Overloading Example in Java

Introduction

Method Overloading is a classic Java console program that demonstrates the concept with complete source code and sample output. Object-oriented programming models real entities with classes, objects, inheritance and polymorphism.

This tutorial walks through the program line by line, explains how the logic works, and highlights best practices you can apply in your own code.

Definition

• A Class has multiple methods of the same name with different parameters is called Method overloading.
• This will allow one function call to perform different tasks depending on method parameters.

Method Overloading Example Program

class MethodOverloadingExample{
	public void add(int num1,int num2){
		int result1=num1+num2;
		System.out.println("Result of first method is "+result1);
	}
	public void add(int num1,int num2,int num3){
		int result2=num1+num2+num3;
		System.out.println("Result of overloaded method is "+result2);
	}
}
class MainMethodOverloading{
	public static void main(String[] args){
		MethodOverloadingExample obj=new MethodOverloadingExample();
		obj.add(10,5);
		obj.add(1,5,2);
	}
}

Sample Output

Result of first method is 15
Result of overloaded method is 8

When to use

Use OOP examples when modelling entities with state and behaviour in larger applications.

How it works

1. Execution begins in the main method — the JVM calls this method when you run the class.

2. int result1=num1+num2; updates a variable used in the calculation or output.

3. A println / print call writes text to the console — part of the sample output below.

4. int result2=num1+num2+num3; updates a variable used in the calculation or output.

5. A println / print call writes text to the console — part of the sample output below.

6. MethodOverloadingExample obj=new MethodOverloadingExample(); updates a variable used in the calculation or output.

7. Compare your console output with the sample output for Method Overloading to confirm the program behaves correctly.

Best Practices

• Use meaningful variable and class names that describe their purpose.
• Compile and run the program locally — modify values to see how output changes.
• Read compiler errors carefully; they usually point to the exact line to fix.

Common Mistakes

• Copying code without understanding each line — practice by changing one statement at a time.
• Mismatching the public class name and the .java filename.
• Forgetting semicolons at the end of statements.