CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c++namespaces
shir k
shir k

Reputation: 107

using namespace & overloaded function

I don't understand why I get the error "ambiguous call to overloaded function". Before "main", I declared to use namespace "second". My expected output is:

this is the first foo
this is the second foo
this is the second foo

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

namespace first {
    void foo() {
        cout << "this is the first foo" << endl;
    }
}

namespace second {
    void foo() {
        cout << "this is the second foo" << endl;
    }
}


void foo() {
    cout << "this is just foo" << endl;
}


using namespace second;
void main() {
    first::foo();
    second::foo();
    foo();
}

Upvotes: 3

Views: 248

Answers (4)

songyuanyao
songyuanyao

Reputation: 172934

Before "main", I declared to use namespace "second".

When you do this, second::foo is introduced into the global namespace, then for foo(); both second::foo and ::foo are valid candidates.

You can specify that you want to call the global foo explicitly, i.e.

::foo();

Or use using-declaration inside main() instead of using-directive, e.g.

int main() {
    using second::foo;
    first::foo();
    second::foo();
    foo();
}

Upvotes: 3

Achal
Achal

Reputation: 11921

Firstly, replace void main() { } with 

int main() {

 return 0;
}

Secondly, using namespace second; should be inside main() from where you want to call particular namespace, not globally.

Finally, If you are using ::scope resolution operator then you don't have to mention using namespace second in the main(), use either one.

Just do like below

int main() {
        first::foo(); /* first foo will be called */
        second::foo(); /* second foo() will be called */
        foo(); /* global foo() will be called */
        return 0;
}

Upvotes: 1

Carl
Carl

Reputation: 2067

The reason this is happening is because of your: using namespace second;

When you do this you qualify the function foo() from the second namespace into the global scope. In the global scope, there exists another function foo() with the exact same signature. Now, your calls to first::foo() and second::foo() are fine. However, when you get to your call to foo(), the compiler doesn't know whether it should call just foo() or second::foo() since they are ambiguous, and at this point they are both in the global namespace.

Upvotes: 2

Christian Hackl
Christian Hackl

Reputation: 27528

Your using namespace second; is precisely the reason you get the error. It practically tells the compiler to treat second::foo as if it was in the global namespace. So now you have two foos there.

By the way, void main is not valid C++. It must be int main.

Upvotes: 1

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