Current Volume 9
Formal Analysis of Overloaded Subprogram Resolution Rules: Ambiguity, Coercion, and Default Parameters in C++, Java, C#, and Ada
Abstract
A simple feature in the design of a statically typed programming language is subprogram overloading: the same identifier can have a variety of implementations in which the arguments have different types. But when implicit type coercion and default parameters are used in conjunction with overloading, the resolution is much more complicated and may result in ambiguities not automatically resolved by the compiler. This paper provides a formal comparative study of overloaded subprogram resolution in four popular languages: C++, Java, C# and Ada. It compares the language-specific mechanisms such as conversion-rank hierarchy in C++, three-phase method invocation procedure in Java, optional parameter and user-defined conversion rules in C#, and top-down expected-type propagation in Ada . The paper shows that none of the four languages can ensure SNA when implicit coercions of equal rank interact with overloaded candidates at the same time, and suggests design principles such as total-order ranking function and default-conscious candidate selection, which would restore SNA in such situations.
Keywords
Overload Resolution, Type Coercion, Ambiguity, Default Parameters, C++, Java, C#, Ada
Citations
IRE Journals:
Aibuki Adeyinka, Owolabi Hammed, Ogozi Confidence, Adewole Philips "Formal Analysis of Overloaded Subprogram Resolution Rules: Ambiguity, Coercion, and Default Parameters in C++, Java, C#, and Ada" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 9 Issue 10 2026 Page 3673-3678 https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I10-1717077
IEEE:
Aibuki Adeyinka, Owolabi Hammed, Ogozi Confidence, Adewole Philips
"Formal Analysis of Overloaded Subprogram Resolution Rules: Ambiguity, Coercion, and Default Parameters in C++, Java, C#, and Ada" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 9(10) https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I10-1717077
About IRE Journals
IRE Journals is an open access online journals established with an aim to publish high quality of research work in various diciplines. We have more than 6 years in publications. Over 2500+ papers already published.
Important Links
For Authors
Volume 8:
Issue 1, Issue 2, Issue 3, Issue 4, Issue 5, Issue 6, Issue 7, Issue 8, Issue 9, Issue 10, Issue 11, Issue 12Volume 7:
Issue 1, Issue 2, Issue 3, Issue 4, Issue 5, Issue 6, Issue 7, Issue 8, Issue 9, Issue 10, Issue 11, Issue 12Volume 6:
Issue 1, Issue 2, Issue 3, Issue 4, Issue 5, Issue 6, Issue 7, Issue 8, Issue 9, Issue 10, Issue 11, Issue 12Volume 5:
Issue 1, Issue 2, Issue 3, Issue 4, Issue 5, Issue 6, Issue 7, Issue 8, Issue 9, Issue 10, Issue 11, Issue 12Volume 4:
Issue 1, Issue 2, Issue 3, Issue 4, Issue 5, Issue 6, Issue 7, Issue 8, Issue 9, Issue 10, Issue 11, Issue 12Volume 3:
Issue 1, Issue 2, Issue 3, Issue 4, Issue 5, Issue 6, Issue 7, Issue 8, Issue 9, Issue 10, Issue 11, Issue 12