C++ Operator Overloading Quiz

C++
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35 in-depth questions covering C++ operator overloading, including arithmetic operators, comparison operators, stream operators, assignment rules, and best practices — with 16 code examples to master operator design and pitfalls.

35 Questions
~70 minutes
1

Question 1

What is operator overloading in C++?

A
Defining custom behavior for operators like +, -, == when applied to user-defined types, allowing classes to behave like built-in types
B
Changing the meaning of operators for built-in types
C
Creating new operators
D
Overriding virtual functions
2

Question 2

What is the syntax for overloading an operator in C++?

A
ReturnType operator@(parameters), where @ is the operator symbol and the function is typically a member or friend
B
operator ReturnType @(parameters)
C
@ operator(parameters)
D
Operator overloading uses special keywords
3

Question 3

What operators cannot be overloaded in C++?

A
Scope resolution (::), member access (.), ternary (?:), sizeof, and typeid operators cannot be overloaded to maintain language integrity
B
Arithmetic operators cannot be overloaded
C
All operators can be overloaded
D
Comparison operators cannot be overloaded
4

Question 4

What is the difference between member and non-member operator overloading?

A
Member operators have implicit this parameter for left operand, while non-member operators (friends) require both operands as parameters for symmetric operations
B
Member operators are faster than non-member operators
C
Non-member operators cannot access private members
D
There is no functional difference
5

Question 5

What is the most important rule for implementing binary arithmetic operators?

cpp
#include <iostream>

class Complex {
private:
    double real, imag;
public:
    Complex(double r = 0, double i = 0) : real(r), imag(i) {}
    
    // Member operator+ - left operand is *this
    Complex operator+(const Complex& other) const {
        return Complex(real + other.real, imag + other.imag);
    }
    
    void print() const {
        std::cout << real << " + " << imag << "i" << std::endl;
    }
};

int main() {
    Complex a(1, 2), b(3, 4);
    Complex c = a + b;  // Calls a.operator+(b)
    c.print();  // Should print: 4 + 6i
    
    return 0;
}
A
Binary operators should return by value to avoid reference lifetime issues, and const-qualify parameters to work with const objects while maintaining commutativity
B
Binary operators should always return by reference
C
Binary operators should modify the left operand
D
Binary operators should never be const
6

Question 6

What is the Rule of Three for operator overloading?

A
If you overload =, you should also overload copy constructor and destructor to maintain consistency in resource management
B
You should overload exactly three operators per class
C
Operators should be implemented in groups of three
D
The Rule of Three doesn't apply to operators
7

Question 7

What is the copy-and-swap idiom for assignment operators?

A
Implementing operator= by creating a temporary copy, swapping with it, then letting destructor clean up, providing strong exception safety and automatic resource management
B
Copying data directly in assignment
C
Swapping without copying
D
A deprecated assignment technique
8

Question 8

What is the most common pitfall when overloading comparison operators?

cpp
#include <iostream>
#include <string>

class Person {
private:
    std::string name;
    int age;
public:
    Person(std::string n, int a) : name(n), age(a) {}
    
    // Only overload ==, not !=
    bool operator==(const Person& other) const {
        return name == other.name && age == other.age;
    }
    
    // Missing != operator - compiler won't generate it!
};

int main() {
    Person p1("Alice", 30), p2("Bob", 25);
    
    if (p1 != p2) {  // ERROR: operator!= not defined
        std::cout << "Different people" << std::endl;
    }
    
    return 0;
}
A
Overloading only one comparison operator without providing the complementary ones, forcing users to write verbose expressions instead of natural !=, >, <= syntax
B
Comparison operators should modify their operands
C
Comparison operators should return void
D
All comparison operators are automatically generated
9

Question 9

What is the correct way to implement operator<< for output streams?

cpp
#include <iostream>
#include <string>

class Person {
private:
    std::string name;
    int age;
public:
    Person(std::string n, int a) : name(n), age(a) {}
    
    // Friend function for << operator
    friend std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& os, const Person& p) {
        os << p.name << " (" << p.age << " years old)";
        return os;  // Return stream for chaining
    }
};

int main() {
    Person p("Alice", 30);
    std::cout << p << std::endl;  // Works like built-in types
    
    return 0;
}
A
Implement as non-member friend function that takes ostream& as first parameter and returns it by reference to enable chaining like std::cout << obj1 << obj2
B
Implement as member function returning void
C
Implement as member function returning ostream&
D
Stream operators cannot be overloaded
10

Question 10

What is the correct way to implement operator>> for input streams?

A
Non-member friend function taking istream& and object reference, returning istream& by reference to enable chaining and handle stream state properly
B
Member function that reads from cin directly
C
Member function returning the input value
D
Input operators cannot be overloaded
11

Question 11

What is the most important consideration when overloading the assignment operator?

cpp
#include <iostream>
#include <string>

class String {
private:
    std::string* data;
public:
    String(const char* s = "") : data(new std::string(s)) {}
    ~String() { delete data; }
    
    // Copy constructor
    String(const String& other) : data(new std::string(*other.data)) {}
    
    // Assignment operator - handle self-assignment!
    String& operator=(const String& other) {
        if (this != &other) {  // Self-assignment check
            delete data;  // Free old resource
            data = new std::string(*other.data);  // Allocate new
        }
        return *this;  // Return reference for chaining
    }
    
    void print() const { std::cout << *data << std::endl; }
};

int main() {
    String s1("Hello"), s2("World");
    s1 = s2;  // Assignment
    s1 = s1;  // Self-assignment (should be safe)
    s1.print();
    
    return 0;
}
A
Handle self-assignment safely by checking this != &other, manage resources properly with copy-and-swap or careful cleanup/allocation order, and return *this by reference
B
Assignment operators should return by value
C
Self-assignment is impossible and doesn't need handling
D
Assignment operators should not return anything
12

Question 12

What is operator precedence and how does it affect overloading?

A
Operator precedence determines evaluation order in expressions, and overloaded operators maintain the same precedence as built-in operators, which can lead to unexpected behavior
B
Overloaded operators can have custom precedence
C
Operator precedence is irrelevant for overloaded operators
D
Overloaded operators have higher precedence than built-in ones
13

Question 13

What is the most common mistake when overloading increment/decrement operators?

cpp
#include <iostream>

class Counter {
private:
    int value;
public:
    Counter(int v = 0) : value(v) {}
    
    // Prefix increment
    Counter& operator++() {
        ++value;
        return *this;
    }
    
    // Postfix increment - note dummy int parameter
    Counter operator++(int) {
        Counter temp = *this;  // Save current value
        ++value;               // Increment
        return temp;           // Return old value
    }
    
    int getValue() const { return value; }
};

int main() {
    Counter c(5);
    
    Counter d = c++;  // Postfix: d gets 5, c becomes 6
    Counter e = ++c;  // Prefix: c becomes 7, e gets 7
    
    std::cout << "c: " << c.getValue() << ", d: " << d.getValue() 
              << ", e: " << e.getValue() << std::endl;
    
    return 0;
}
A
Forgetting the dummy int parameter in postfix operators, or implementing prefix/postfix incorrectly by returning wrong values or modifying objects improperly
B
Increment operators cannot be overloaded
C
Prefix and postfix operators are identical
D
The dummy parameter is optional
14

Question 14

What is the key difference between overloading [] and at() for container classes?

A
operator[] provides direct access without bounds checking for performance, while at() throws exceptions for out-of-bounds access, allowing safe access with error handling
B
operator[] is safer than at()
C
at() is faster than operator[]
D
They provide identical functionality
15

Question 15

What is the most important rule for overloading function call operator ()?

A
Function objects should be lightweight and copyable, with operator() typically const if it doesn't modify state, enabling use in standard algorithms
B
operator() cannot be overloaded
C
Function objects should be heavy and non-copyable
D
operator() should always modify state
16

Question 16

What is the copy-and-swap idiom and why is it preferred for assignment?

cpp
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
#include <algorithm>  // for std::swap

class Resource {
private:
    std::string* data;
public:
    Resource(const char* s = "") : data(new std::string(s)) {}
    ~Resource() { delete data; }
    
    // Copy constructor
    Resource(const Resource& other) : data(new std::string(*other.data)) {}
    
    // Assignment using copy-and-swap
    Resource& operator=(Resource other) {  // Note: pass by value!
        std::swap(data, other.data);     // Swap resources
        return *this;                    // other destructor cleans up old resource
    }
    
    void print() const { std::cout << *data << std::endl; }
};

int main() {
    Resource r1("Hello"), r2("World");
    r1 = r2;  // Exception-safe assignment
    r1.print();
    
    return 0;
}
A
Pass parameter by value to leverage copy constructor, then swap resources, providing automatic cleanup of old resources via destructor and strong exception safety
B
Copy data directly without swapping
C
Swap without copying first
D
A deprecated assignment technique
17

Question 17

What is the most common pitfall when overloading arithmetic compound assignment operators?

A
Implementing += in terms of + can lead to unnecessary temporary objects, while implementing + in terms of += avoids this overhead and ensures consistency
B
Compound assignment operators cannot be overloaded
C
Arithmetic operators should not be compound
D
Compound assignments are identical to simple assignments
18

Question 18

What is the correct way to handle commutativity in operator overloading?

cpp
#include <iostream>

class Complex {
private:
    double real, imag;
public:
    Complex(double r = 0, double i = 0) : real(r), imag(i) {}
    
    // Member operator+ for Complex + Complex
    Complex operator+(const Complex& other) const {
        return Complex(real + other.real, imag + other.imag);
    }
    
    // Non-member operator+ for double + Complex
    friend Complex operator+(double d, const Complex& c) {
        return Complex(d + c.real, c.imag);
    }
    
    void print() const {
        std::cout << real << " + " << imag << "i" << std::endl;
    }
};

int main() {
    Complex c(1, 2);
    Complex result1 = c + 5.0;  // Uses member operator+
    Complex result2 = 5.0 + c;  // Uses friend operator+
    
    result1.print();  // 6 + 2i
    result2.print();  // 6 + 2i
    
    return 0;
}
A
Provide both member and non-member versions of commutative operators to handle cases where the user-defined type appears on either side of the operator
B
Commutativity is handled automatically by the compiler
C
Only member operators are needed for commutativity
D
Commutativity cannot be achieved with operator overloading
19

Question 19

What is the most important consideration when overloading the subscript operator []?

A
Provide both const and non-const versions to allow reading from const objects while enabling modification of non-const objects, returning references for efficient access
B
operator[] should always return by value
C
Only const version is needed
D
Subscript operator cannot be overloaded
20

Question 20

What is the relationship between operator overloading and implicit conversions?

A
Single-parameter constructors can create implicit conversions that interfere with operator overloading, potentially causing ambiguous overloads or unexpected behavior
B
Operator overloading prevents implicit conversions
C
Implicit conversions enhance operator overloading
D
There is no relationship between them
21

Question 21

What is the most common mistake when overloading relational operators?

A
Defining only operator< and expecting compiler to generate others, or defining inconsistent relationships that violate mathematical expectations
B
Relational operators cannot be overloaded
C
All relational operators are automatically consistent
D
Relational operators should return void
22

Question 22

What is the correct way to implement operator bool() for conditional contexts?

A
Use explicit operator bool() to avoid implicit conversions in conditional contexts while still allowing if(obj) syntax, preventing unexpected implicit conversions
B
Use implicit operator bool() for all cases
C
Use operator int() instead
D
Boolean conversion operators cannot be overloaded
23

Question 23

What is the key consideration when overloading operators for template classes?

cpp
#include <iostream>

template<typename T>
class Wrapper {
private:
    T value;
public:
    Wrapper(T v) : value(v) {}
    
    // Template operator+ - works for any T that supports +
    template<typename U>
    auto operator+(const Wrapper<U>& other) const {
        return Wrapper<decltype(value + other.value)>(value + other.value);
    }
    
    T get() const { return value; }
};

int main() {
    Wrapper<int> w1(5);
    Wrapper<double> w2(3.14);
    
    auto result = w1 + w2;  // Wrapper<double>(8.14)
    std::cout << result.get() << std::endl;
    
    return 0;
}
A
Template operators must handle different template parameters gracefully, using auto return types and decltype for type deduction to work with mixed-type operations
B
Template classes cannot have overloaded operators
C
All template parameters must be identical
D
Template operators are less efficient
24

Question 24

What is the most important rule for overloading the dereference operator *?

A
Smart pointer classes should overload operator* to return references to the pointed-to object, enabling transparent pointer-like syntax while managing ownership
B
operator* should return by value
C
Dereference operator cannot be overloaded
D
operator* should return pointers
25

Question 25

What is the relationship between operator overloading and the standard library?

A
Many standard library algorithms and containers require overloaded operators like <, == for sorting and searching, making operator overloading essential for STL compatibility
B
Standard library doesn't use overloaded operators
C
Operator overloading breaks standard library usage
D
Standard library provides all necessary operators
26

Question 26

What is the most common performance pitfall in operator overloading?

A
Returning objects by value from operators instead of using move semantics or RVO, causing unnecessary copies of expensive-to-copy types
B
Operator overloading is always slow
C
Operators should never return by value
D
Performance is not affected by operator overloading
27

Question 27

What is the correct way to handle operator overloading in inheritance hierarchies?

A
Base class operators should be virtual if derived classes need different behavior, or use non-member functions that work with base class references for polymorphic operations
B
Operators cannot be virtual
C
All operators should be final
D
Inheritance doesn't affect operator overloading
28

Question 28

What is the most important safety consideration when overloading the comma operator?

A
The comma operator should rarely be overloaded as it breaks expected evaluation order and can lead to confusing code that violates user expectations
B
Comma operator should always be overloaded
C
Comma operator overloading is safe and common
D
Comma operator cannot be overloaded
29

Question 29

What is the key difference between overloading -> and * for smart pointers?

A
operator-> returns a pointer for member access chaining, while operator* returns a reference to the pointed-to object for dereferencing
B
They provide identical functionality
C
operator-> cannot be overloaded
D
operator* cannot be overloaded
30

Question 30

What is the most important rule for overloading type conversion operators?

A
Use explicit conversion operators to prevent unexpected implicit conversions, and ensure conversions are lossless or clearly documented when implicit
B
All conversion operators should be implicit
C
Conversion operators cannot be overloaded
D
Conversion operators should always lose precision
31

Question 31

What is the relationship between operator overloading and move semantics?

A
Move constructors and move assignment operators are special forms of operator overloading that enable efficient resource transfer for rvalue objects
B
Move semantics replace operator overloading
C
Operator overloading prevents move semantics
D
There is no relationship between them
32

Question 32

What is the most common mistake when overloading the address-of operator &?

A
Overloading & can break code that expects normal pointer semantics, and should only be done for proxy objects that need custom addressing behavior
B
Address-of operator cannot be overloaded
C
Address-of operator should always be overloaded
D
Address-of operator overloading is safe and common
33

Question 33

What is the correct way to implement operator new and operator delete?

A
Class-specific operator new/delete should be static member functions that manage memory allocation/deallocation for that class, enabling custom memory management strategies
B
operator new/delete cannot be overloaded
C
operator new/delete should be virtual
D
operator new/delete are automatically generated
34

Question 34

What is the most important principle for deciding when to overload operators?

A
Only overload operators when the meaning is obvious, natural, and unsurprising to users, following the principle of least surprise and established conventions
B
Always overload as many operators as possible
C
Never overload operators
D
Overload operators randomly for creativity
35

Question 35

What is the fundamental guideline for operator overloading design?

A
Operators should behave consistently with built-in types and mathematical expectations, maintain natural syntax, and never change the basic semantics of operations
B
Operators should behave completely differently from built-in types
C
Operator design has no guidelines
D
Operators should always change semantics for creativity

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