How does function overloading improve code usability?

Function overloading enhances code usability by allowing multiple functions to share the same name while differentiating them based on their parameter lists. This flexibility means that a programmer can define several variations of a function, such as different parameter types or numbers of parameters, all under one name.

For instance, consider a function called calculateArea. You could overload it to calculate the area of different shapes, such as a rectangle and a circle, simply by changing the parameters:

• calculateArea(double length, double width) for a rectangle.
• calculateArea(double radius) for a circle.

This approach leads to more intuitive and readable code because it groups related functionalities under a single, descriptive name, making it clear that these functions serve a similar purpose. Users of the code can understand that calculateArea can handle different inputs without having to remember multiple distinct function names, thereby enhancing code clarity and usability.

Other choices do not effectively highlight how function overloading contributes to usability; unique names for functions do not necessarily improve usability as they can complicate remembering and maintaining the code. Increasing runtime errors would negatively impact usability, while limiting function parameters might restrict the versatility offered by overloading.