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[SVN r15856]
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Dave Abrahams
2002-10-10 13:05:52 +00:00
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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/strict.dtd">
<title>
Function Overloading
</title>
<div>
<h1>
<img width="277" height="86" id="_x0000_i1025" align="center"
src="../../../c++boost.gif" alt= "c++boost.gif (8819 bytes)">Function Overloading
</h1>
<h2>An Example</h2>
<p>
To expose overloaded functions in Python, simply <code>def()</code> each
one with the same Python name:
<blockquote>
<pre>
inline int f1() { return 3; }
inline int f2(int x) { return x + 1; }
class X {
public:
X() : m_value(0) {}
X(int n) : m_value(n) {}
int value() const { return m_value; }
void value(int v) { m_value = v; }
private:
int m_value;
};
...
BOOST_PYTHON_MODULE_INIT(overload_demo)
{
    try
    {
boost::python::module_builder overload_demo("overload_demo");
// Overloaded functions at module scope
overload_demo.def(f1, "f");
overload_demo.def(f2, "f");
boost::python::class_builder&lt;X&gt; x_class(overload_demo, "X");
// Overloaded constructors
x_class.def(boost::python::constructor&lt;&gt;());
x_class.def(boost::python::constructor&lt;int&gt;());
// Overloaded member functions
x_class.def((int (X::*)() const)&amp;X::value, "value");
x_class.def((void (X::*)(int))&amp;X::value, "value");
...
</pre>
</blockquote>
<p>
Now in Python:
<blockquote>
<pre>
>>> from overload_demo import *
>>> x0 = X()
>>> x1 = X(1)
>>> x0.value()
0
>>> x1.value()
1
>>> x0.value(3)
>>> x0.value()
3
>>> X('hello')
TypeError: No overloaded functions match (X, string). Candidates are:
void (*)()
void (*)(int)
>>> f()
3
>>> f(4)
5
</pre>
</blockquote>
<h2>Discussion</h2>
<p>
Notice that overloading in the Python module was produced three ways:<ol>
<li>by combining the non-overloaded C++ functions <code>int f1()</code>
and <code>int f2(int)</code> and exposing them as <code>f</code> in Python.
<li>by exposing the overloaded constructors of <code>class X</code>
<li>by exposing the overloaded member functions <code>X::value</code>.
</ol>
<p>
Techniques 1. and 3. above are really alternatives. In case 3, you need
to form a pointer to each of the overloaded functions. The casting
syntax shown above is one way to do that in C++. Case 1 does not require
complicated-looking casts, but may not be viable if you can't change
your C++ interface. N.B. There's really nothing unsafe about casting an
overloaded (member) function address this way: the compiler won't let
you write it at all unless you get it right.
<h2>An Alternative to Casting</h2>
<p>
This approach is not neccessarily better, but may be preferable for some
people who have trouble writing out the types of (member) function
pointers or simply prefer to avoid all casts as a matter of principle:
<blockquote>
<pre>
// Forwarding functions for X::value
inline void set_x_value(X&amp; self, int v) { self.value(v); }
inline int get_x_value(X&amp; self) { return self.value(); }
...
// Overloaded member functions
x_class.def(set_x_value, "value");
x_class.def(get_x_value, "value");
</pre>
</blockquote>
<p>Here we are taking advantage of the ability to expose C++ functions at
namespace scope as Python member functions.
<h2>Overload Resolution</h2>
<p>
The function overload resolution mechanism works as follows:
<ul>
<li>Attribute lookup for extension classes proceeds in <a
href="http://www.python.org/doc/current/tut/node11.html#SECTION0011510000000000000000">the
usual Python way</a> using a depth-first, left-to-right search. When a
class is found which has a matching attribute, only functions overloaded
in the context of that class are candidates for overload resolution. In
this sense, overload resolution mirrors the C++ mechanism, where a name
in a derived class ``hides'' all functions with the same name from a base
class.
<p>
<li>Within a name-space context (extension class or module), overloaded
functions are tried in the same order they were
<code>def()</code>ed. The first function whose signature can be made to
match each argument passed is the one which is ultimately called.
This means in particular that you cannot overload the same function on
both ``<code>int</code>'' and ``<code>float</code>'' because Python
automatically converts either of the two types into the other one.
If the ``<code>float</code>'' overload is found first, it is used
also used for arguments of type ``<code>int</code>'' as well, and the
``<code>int</code>'' version of the function is never invoked.
</ul>
<p>
Next: <a href="inheritance.html">Inheritance</a>
Previous: <a href="overriding.html">Overridable Virtual Functions</a>
Up: <a href="index.html">Top</a>
<p>
&copy; Copyright David Abrahams 2001. Permission to copy, use, modify,
sell and distribute this document is granted provided this copyright
notice appears in all copies. This document is provided ``as
is'' without express or implied warranty, and with no claim as to
its suitability for any purpose.
<p>
Updated: Mar 6, 2001
</div>