Method Overloading

Method overloading is a concept in object-oriented programming where multiple methods can have the same name but different parameter lists. This allows the programmer to define multiple methods with the same name but with different functionalities, which improves code readability and reusability.

Advantages of Method Overloading:
1. Code Reusability: By using method overloading, we can reuse the same method name with different parameters, making the code more concise and reusable.
2. Improved Readability: Method overloading enhances code readability as it allows the programmer to use the same method name for similar operations, making the code more intuitive and easier to understand.
3. Flexibility: Method overloading provides flexibility to the programmer to choose the appropriate method based on the type and number of parameters passed.
4. Code Maintenance: With method overloading, if any changes or modifications are required in a method, it can be done without affecting other methods with the same name but different parameter lists.

Example:
Suppose we have a class called 'Calculator' that performs basic mathematical operations. We can define multiple methods called 'add' in the same class, each with a different parameter list. For example:

```java
public class Calculator {
public int add(int a, int b) {
return a + b;
}

public double add(double a, double b) {
return a + b;
}

public int add(int a, int b, int c) {
return a + b + c;
}
}
```

In the above example, we have three methods with the same name 'add', but each method has a different parameter list. The first method adds two integers, the second method adds two doubles, and the third method adds three integers.

This allows the programmer to call the appropriate method based on the type and number of arguments passed. For example:

```java
Calculator calculator = new Calculator();
int sum1 = calculator.add(5, 10); // Calls add(int, int)
double sum2 = calculator.add(3.14, 2.5); // Calls add(double, double)
int sum3 = calculator.add(2, 4, 6); // Calls add(int, int, int)
```

In conclusion, method overloading is a powerful feature of object-oriented programming that allows the programmer to define multiple methods with the same name but different parameter lists, improving code reusability, readability, and flexibility.