From: Michael Neumann <mneumann@...>
Date: 2005-01-24T21:02:26+09:00
Subject: Re: A question (and answer) for the Ruby FAQ: override and overload

Stephan K�mper wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> before I go ahead and post my proposal directly to the FAQ site, I 
> though I'd better share the proposal here...
> 
> I tend to add this question, as it regularly is touched here in 
> discussions and questions:
> 
> What's with 'overloading' and 'overriding' methods in Ruby? And what's 
> the difference between them anyway?

Overloading usually means in C++ or Java:

   void my_method();
   void my_method(int arg);
   void my_method(int arg, char* x);

I.e. static polymorphism based on method signatures (the matching method 
is found at compile time, hence "static").
In Ruby, we don't have this kind of polymorhphism. Okay we can emulate 
this using:

   def my_method(*args, &block)
   end

But, I don't count this.

Overriding is probably another term for "overwriting" a method. That's 
simply if you redefine a method.

Regards,

   Michael