Relational Operator Overloading in C++

February 14, 2023

Relational operator overloading

Relational operator overloading in C++ is frequently used to compare many of the built-in data types in C++. We can overload relational operators like >,<,>=etc to directly manipulate the object of a class.

relational operator overloading

Relational Operator Overloading in C++

There are various relational operators supported by C++ language like (<, >, <=, >=, ==, etc.) which can be used to compare C++ built-in data types.

You can overload any of these operators, which can be used to compare the objects of a class.

Syntax:

return_type operator symbol(const ClassName& object)
{
   // statements
}
// Here operator is a keyword and relational operator 
// symbol is the operator to be overloaded

Example:

bool operator >(const Student& stObj)
{
   // function definition
}

Loop Types in C++

Decision Making in C++

Array in C++

String in C++

Function in C++

Example 1

Here we are Overloading > i.e. greater than operator

To know the taller between two students.

Run

#include <iostream>    
using namespace std;

class Student{
    int feet = 0; //can be b/w 0 & infinity
    int inches = 0; // can be b/w 0 & 12
    
    public:
    void getHeight(int f, int i){
        feet = f;
        inches = i;
    }

    // const and & added check explanation above(Before code) why
    bool operator > (const Student& s2)
    {
        if(feet > s2.feet)
            return true;
        
        else if(feet == s2.feet && inches > s2.inches)
            return true;
         
        return false;
    }
};

int main()
{
    Student s1,s2;
    
    s1.getHeight(5,10);
    s2.getHeight(6,1);
    
    if(s1 > s2)
        cout << "Student 1 is taller" << endl; else if(s2 > s1)
        cout << "Student 2 is taller" << endl;
    else
        cout << "Both have equal height" << endl;
    

    return 0;
}

Output –

Student 2 is taller

Example 2

Overloading comparison Operator (==)

Here we are writing program to check if two clocks are showing the same time or not –

Run

#include <iostream>  
using namespace std;

class Time
{
    int hour, mins, secs;
    public:
    Time(){
        hour=0, mins=0; secs=0;
    }
    
    // parameterized constructor
    Time(int h, int m, int s)
    {
        if(h>=0 && h <=23 && m >=0 && m <=59 && s >0 && s <=59)
            { hour=h, mins=m; secs=s; }
        else
            cout << "Invalid time format, values would be 00:00:00 by default" << endl;
    }
    
    // returns true if both times are same
    bool operator == (const Time& t2)
    {
        return (hour == t2.hour 
        && mins == t2.mins 
        && secs == t2.secs);
    }
};


int main()
{
    Time t1(7,11,30);
    Time t2(3,30,41);

    if(t1 == t2)
        cout << "Clocks show same time";
    else 
        cout << "Clocks show different times";

    return 0;
}

Output

Clocks show different times

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