How Does Python Handle Method Overloading?

Method Overloading in Python

In Python, method overloading differs from method overriding. To overload methods, you can utilize a single function with default argument values.

<code class="python">class A:
    def stackoverflow(self, i='some_default_value'):
        print('only method')

ob = A()
ob.stackoverflow(2)  # prints 'only method'
ob.stackoverflow()   # prints 'only method' with 'some_default_value'</code>

However, Python 3.4 introduced single dispatch generic functions to provide a more comprehensive method overloading mechanism.

<code class="python">from functools import singledispatch

@singledispatch
def fun(arg, verbose=False):
    print(arg)

@fun.register(int)
def _(arg, verbose=False):
    print(arg)

@fun.register(list)
def _(arg, verbose=False):
    for i, elem in enumerate(arg):
        print(i, elem)</code>

Using this approach, you can handle different argument types with specific implementations while maintaining a single function.

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