CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c++operator-overloading
Stephen
Stephen

Reputation: 1528

Overloading Base Data Types

Is it possible to overload a base type like char or int with extra operators?

What I tried:

bool char::operator[](const int param) {
    if (param < 8) {
        return (*this) & std::pow(2, param);
    }
    else {
        exit(13);
    }
}

What I want to happen: I want the function to return the value of the bit at position param of the character variable.

What Happens: It does not compile. Error: 'bool' followed by 'char' is illegal.

Upvotes: 0

Views: 567

Answers (2)

Abhinav S
Abhinav S

Reputation: 121

You can't overload char or use 'this' since it represents the instantiation of a class but what if you can create your own class Char or CHAR etc... similar to a String class or the way you can write Lists or Stacks using your own class using vectors. Here you go

So you can have something like

class Char{
    private:
        char cx;
    public:
        Char(){}
        Char(char ctmp):cx(ctmp){}
        Char(Char &tmp):cx(tmp.cx){ }
        ~Char(){ }

        char getChar(void){ return this->cx; }

         // operator implementations here
        Char& operator = (const Char &tmp)
        {
            cx = tmp.cx;
            return *this;
        }
        Char& operator = (char& ctmp){
            cx = ctmp;
            return *this;
        }
        bool operator[](const int param) {
            if (param < 8) { return (*this) & std::pow(2, param); }
            else { exit(13); }
        }
};

Upvotes: 0

md5i
md5i

Reputation: 3083

No. char is a fundamental type, and as such you cannot overload its member operator, as it has no members.

Furthermore, operator[] cannot be implemented as a non-member function. So in this case, I am afraid you are out of luck.

Upvotes: 1

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