Java Method Overloading: Different Parameters with the Same Name, Quick Mastery

Java method overloading refers to the phenomenon where, within the same class, there are methods with the same name but different **parameter lists** (differing in type, quantity, or order). The core is the difference in parameter lists; methods are not overloaded if they only differ in return type or parameter name, and duplicate definitions occur if the parameter lists are identical. Its purpose is to simplify code by using a unified method name (e.g., `add`) to handle scenarios with different parameters (e.g., adding integers or decimals). Correct examples include the `add` method in a `Calculator` class, which supports different parameter lists like `add(int, int)` and `add(double, double)`. Incorrect cases involve identical parameter lists or differing only in return type (e.g., defining two `test(int, int)` methods). At runtime, Java automatically matches methods based on parameters, and constructors can also be overloaded (e.g., initializing a `Person` class with different parameters). Overloading enhances code readability and conciseness, commonly seen in utility classes (e.g., `Math`). Mastering its rules helps avoid compilation errors and optimize code structure.