Can Go Support Function Overloading Like Other Languages?

Overloading Functions and Methods in Golang

Golang allows for the creation of methods with the same name and arity, provided they operate on different types. This technique, known as function overloading, allows for concise and intuitive code. However, when the receiver of a method is moved to the arguments list, compilation errors arise.

Consider the following code snippet that demonstrates valid method overloading:

type A struct {
  Name string
}

type B struct {
  Name string
}

func (a *A) Print() {
  fmt.Println(a.Name)
}

func (b *B) Print() {
  fmt.Println(b.Name)
}

In this example, two methods named Print are defined for different types, A and B. The methods share the same name and arity but operate on distinct struct types. This code compiles without errors and produces the desired output.

However, if the receiver of the Print methods is moved to the arguments list, an error occurs:

func Print(a *A) {
  fmt.Println(a.Name)
}

func Print(b *B) {
  fmt.Println(b.Name)
}

This change results in a compilation error:

Print redeclared in this block
previous declaration at :18
cannot use a (type A) as type B in function argument

The reason for this error lies in Go's lack of support for function overloading based on argument types. Go does not allow multiple functions with the same name and arity unless they operate on different types. This design decision ensures that function calls are unambiguous and avoids potential confusion during compilation and execution.

To work around this limitation, developers can use different function names for each implementation or employ methods that receive a single parameter (the receiver). By using methods instead of functions, Go allows for "overloading" based on the receiver type, enabling polymorphic behaviour for different struct types.

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