Java Method Overloading Tutorial with Real-Time Project Example

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Last Updated on: 12th Nov 2025 13:51:04 PM

Welcome to this beginner-friendly tutorial on Method Overloading in Java! Method Overloading is a powerful compile-time polymorphism feature that allows you to define multiple methods with the same name but different parameters in the same class.

This tutorial uses a real-world project-based example — an Online Food Delivery System — to show how method overloading is used in real software development.

 

What is Method Overloading?

Method Overloading occurs when a class has multiple methods with the same name but different parameter lists (different in number, type, or order of parameters).

 

• Decided at compile time (Compile-time Polymorphism).

• Improves code readability and reusability.

• Return type does NOT matter for overloading.

 

Rules for Method Overloading

1. Same method name

2. Different parameters:

   • Different number of parameters

   • Different data types of parameters

   • Different order of parameters

3. Return type can be same or different (doesn't affect overloading)

 

Example of Method Overloading

When you use an ATM machine, you can withdraw money in multiple ways:

1. By entering amount only.

2. By entering amount + account type (e.g., savings or current).

3. By entering amount + account type + PIN (for additional security).

 

All these actions perform the same task — withdrawing money,
but the inputs differ, which is exactly what Method Overloading is.

class ATM {

    // 1️⃣ Withdraw money by amount only
    void withdraw(int amount) {
        System.out.println("Withdrawing ₹" + amount + " from default account.");
    }

    // 2️⃣ Withdraw money with account type
    void withdraw(int amount, String accountType) {
        System.out.println("Withdrawing ₹" + amount + " from " + accountType + " account.");
    }

    // 3️⃣ Withdraw money with account type and PIN
    void withdraw(int amount, String accountType, int pin) {
        System.out.println("Verifying PIN...");
        System.out.println("Withdrawing ₹" + amount + " from " + accountType + " account using PIN " + pin + ".");
    }
}

public class ATMExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        ATM atm = new ATM();

        // Calling overloaded methods
        atm.withdraw(2000);
        atm.withdraw(5000, "Savings");
        atm.withdraw(10000, "Current", 1234);
    }
}

 

Output

Withdrawing ₹2000 from default account.
Withdrawing ₹5000 from Savings account.
Verifying PIN...
Withdrawing ₹10000 from Current account using PIN 1234.

 

Explanation

• The method withdraw() is used three times with different parameter lists.

• The compiler decides which version to call based on the arguments provided.

• All methods perform the same logical task — withdraw money — but handle it differently depending on input.

 

This demonstrates compile-time polymorphism through method overloading.

 

How It Works

• The compiler decides which add() method to call based on parameters.

• This decision happens at compile time, hence called compile-time polymorphism.

 

Ways to Overload a Method

You can overload a method by changing:

 

1. Number of Parameters

void show(int a)
void show(int a, int b)

 

2. Type of Parameters

void show(int a)
void show(double a)

 

3. Order of Parameters

void show(int a, double b)
void show(double a, int b)

 

What You Cannot Do

❌ You cannot overload methods just by changing the return type:

int add(int a, int b) { return a + b; }
double add(int a, int b) { return a + b; } // ❌ Error: Same parameter list

 

Real-World Understanding

Action	Method Called	Description
Withdraw ₹2000	withdraw(int)	Basic withdrawal
Withdraw ₹5000 from Savings	withdraw(int, String)	Chooses account
Withdraw ₹10000 using PIN	withdraw(int, String, int)	Adds security layer

 

Real-Time Project: Online Food Delivery System

Let’s build a Food Ordering App where users can:

• Place orders with different details.

• Apply discounts based on order type.

• Generate receipts.

 

We’ll use method overloading in the OrderProcessor class to handle different ways of placing an order.

 

Step 1: FoodItem Class

// FoodItem.java
public class FoodItem {
    private String name;
    private double price;
    private String category;

    public FoodItem(String name, double price, String category) {
        this.name = name;
        this.price = price;
        this.category = category;
    }

    // Getters
    public String getName() { return name; }
    public double getPrice() { return price; }
    public String getCategory() { return category; }

    @Override
    public String toString() {
        return name + " (₹" + price + ") - " + category;
    }
}

 

Step 2: OrderProcessor Class with Overloaded Methods

// OrderProcessor.java
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;

public class OrderProcessor {
    private List<FoodItem> cart;
    private double discount = 0.0;

    public OrderProcessor() {
        this.cart = new ArrayList<>();
    }

    // 1. Overloaded Method: Place order with just item name and price
    public void placeOrder(String itemName, double price) {
        FoodItem item = new FoodItem(itemName, price, "General");
        cart.add(item);
        System.out.println("Added: " + item);
    }

    // 2. Overloaded: Place order with name, price, and category
    public void placeOrder(String itemName, double price, String category) {
        FoodItem item = new FoodItem(itemName, price, category);
        cart.add(item);
        System.out.println("Added: " + item);
    }

    // 3. Overloaded: Place order with quantity
    public void placeOrder(String itemName, double price, int quantity) {
        for (int i = 0; i < quantity; i++) {
            placeOrder(itemName, price);  // Reuse simpler method
        }
        System.out.println("Added " + quantity + " x " + itemName);
    }

    // 4. Overloaded: Place order with item + discount
    public void placeOrder(String itemName, double price, double discountPercent) {
        double discountedPrice = price - (price * discountPercent / 100);
        FoodItem item = new FoodItem(itemName, discountedPrice, "Discounted");
        cart.add(item);
        System.out.println("Added (with " + discountPercent + "% off): " + itemName + " @ ₹" + discountedPrice);
    }

    // 5. Overloaded: Place order with full details
    public void placeOrder(String itemName, double price, String category, int quantity, boolean isExpress) {
        double totalPrice = price * quantity;
        if (isExpress) {
            totalPrice += 50; // Express delivery fee
        }
        for (int i = 0; i < quantity; i++) {
            FoodItem item = new FoodItem(itemName, price, category + (isExpress ? " (Express)" : ""));
            cart.add(item);
        }
        System.out.println("Added " + quantity + " x " + itemName + " | Total: ₹" + totalPrice);
    }

    // Generate receipt
    public void generateReceipt() {
        System.out.println("\n" + "=".repeat(40));
        System.out.println("           RECEIPT");
        System.out.println("=".repeat(40));
        double total = 0;
        for (FoodItem item : cart) {
            System.out.println(item);
            total += item.getPrice();
        }
        System.out.println("-".repeat(40));
        System.out.println("Total: ₹" + total);
        System.out.println("=".repeat(40) + "\n");
    }

    public int getCartSize() { return cart.size(); }
}

 

Step 3: Main App – FoodDeliveryApp

// FoodDeliveryApp.java
public class FoodDeliveryApp {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        OrderProcessor order = new OrderProcessor();

        System.out.println("Placing Orders Using Method Overloading:\n");

        // 1. Simple order
        order.placeOrder("Margherita Pizza", 399);

        // 2. With category
        order.placeOrder("Cold Coffee", 150, "Beverages");

        // 3. With quantity
        order.placeOrder("Garlic Bread", 129, 2);

        // 4. With discount
        order.placeOrder("Pasta", 450, 20);  // 20% off

        // 5. Full details with express
        order.placeOrder("Biryani", 320, "Main Course", 1, true);

        // Generate final receipt
        order.generateReceipt();

        System.out.println("Total items in cart: " + order.getCartSize());
    }
}

 

Output

Placing Orders Using Method Overloading:

Added: Margherita Pizza (₹399.0) - General
Added: Cold Coffee (₹150.0) - Beverages
Added 2 x Garlic Bread
Added (with 20.0% off): Pasta @ ₹360.0
Added 1 x Biryani | Total: ₹370.0

========================================
           RECEIPT
========================================
Margherita Pizza (₹399.0) - General
Cold Coffee (₹150.0) - Beverages
Garlic Bread (₹129.0) - General
Garlic Bread (₹129.0) - General
Pasta (₹360.0) - Discounted
Biryani (₹320.0) - Main Course (Express)
----------------------------------------
Total: ₹1487.0
========================================

Total items in cart: 6

 

Why Use Method Overloading? (Real Project Benefits)

Use Case	Benefit
placeOrder(name, price)	Quick order for simple items
placeOrder(name, price, category)	Better analytics (track by category)
placeOrder(name, price, quantity)	Bulk ordering
placeOrder(name, price, discount)	Promotional offers
placeOrder(..., express)	Premium delivery option

 

Clean, intuitive API for developers and users.

 

How Java Chooses the Right Method?

Call	Method Selected
placeOrder("Pizza", 399)	(String, double)
placeOrder("Coffee", 150, "Drinks")	(String, double, String)
placeOrder("Bread", 129, 2)	(String, double, int)

 

 

Common Mistakes

// NOT overloading (only return type differs)
public int calculate() { ... }
public double calculate() { ... }  // COMPILE ERROR!

 

// Valid overloading
public void add(int a, int b) { }
public void add(double a, double b) { }
public void add(int a, int b, int c) { }

 

Real-Time Use Cases

System	Overloaded Method
Banking App	deposit(amount), deposit(amount, accountType)
Email System	send(to), send(to, cc, subject, body)
Graphics	draw(shape), draw(shape, color, size)
Logger	log(message), log(message, level, timestamp)

 

Summary

• Method Overloading = Same name, different parameters.

• Improves API design and code readability.

• Used in real projects for flexible, user-friendly methods.

• Compile-time decision — fast and safe.

 

Project Tip:
In your Food Delivery App, overload:

• applyCoupon(code)

• applyCoupon(code, minOrderValue)

• applyCoupon(code, userType)

 

Q: Why is method overloading called compile-time polymorphism?
A: Because the method call is resolved by the compiler during compilation, not at runtime.

 

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You now master Method Overloading in Java with a real-world, production-ready example!
Keep building — happy coding!   

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