Python function overloading

In Python, function overloading—as seen in other languages like Java or C++—doesn’t exist in the traditional sense. In those languages, you can define multiple functions with the same name but different parameter types or counts. However, Python doesn’t allow multiple functions with the same name; the last definition will overwrite the previous ones.

That said, Python provides alternative ways to simulate function overloading using default arguments, variable-length arguments (*args, **kwargs), and type-checking inside functions.

Here's how you can mimic function overloading in Python:

Using default arguments

def greet(name="Guest"):

    print(f"Hello, {name}!")

Using variable-length arguments

def add(*args):

    return sum(args)

Using type checking

def process(data):

    if isinstance(data, list):

        print("Processing a list...")

    elif isinstance(data, str):

        print("Processing a string...")

    else:

        print("Unknown type")

Using functools.singledispatch (from Python 3.4+)

from functools import singledispatch

@singledispatch

def fun(arg):

    print("Default case")

@fun.register(int)

def _(arg):

    print("Integer case")

@fun.register(str)

def _(arg):

    print("String case")

Summary:

Python doesn't support traditional function overloading, but it provides flexible tools to achieve similar results. These methods make your code more dynamic and adaptable without needing strict overloading rules.