C#•2mo ago

why do we declare overloaded operators as `static` methods?

i have been looking for a simple answer that i can understand because i am beginner.

16 Replies

✿ Scarlet ✿•2mo ago

Just a design decision

canton7•2mo ago

If you have two different types, it lets the compiler pick a suitable method to call from either type.

MODiX•2mo ago

canton7

REPL Result: Success

int i = new D() + new C();

public class C
{
    public static int operator +(D d, C c) => 1;
}

public class D { }

int i = new D() + new C();

public class C
{
    public static int operator +(D d, C c) => 1;
}

public class D { }

Compile: 340.389ms | Execution: 29.090ms | React with ❌ to remove this embed.

canton7•2mo ago

If they were instance methods, you might have the problem where new D() + new C() calls D.Add(C), but new C() + new D() calls C.Add(D), and those two methods on different types might do different things (particularly when inheritance starts getting involved). By having them be static, the compiler gets to look at all of the applicable methods across all types which are involved, and pick the most suitable

arion•2mo ago

I'm still waiting for the day we make static non-mandatory if the underlying class is static. (Like the unsafe keyword)

canton7•2mo ago

Eh, then you have to scroll all the way to the top of the class to see whether a method is static

arion•2mo ago

If a class is static, every method will be static. It beats writing static 100x. (Unless thats your thing of course) Same for unsafe. If the entire class is unsafe, each method is unsafe. Unsafe on the class level also disables async for methods in that respective class (until .NET 9) Rider has a nice thing of pinning the current class to the viewport

arion•2mo ago

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1166785753481760829/1302985400423419974/5f7ae1b4-e566-4efe-bb87-50fb1e263f42_04-11-2024.png?ex=672a1b37&is=6728c9b7&hm=344e2078003da19b9e494b58df314af48b48ceb221899d1357062f2550bb9cf6&

canton7•2mo ago

... but you still have to scroll up to the top of the class to see whether a method is static. It's more "spooky action at a distance", which experience tells us is best avoided

arion•2mo ago

Tell that to the team who made this functionality for the unsafe keyword already.

canton7•2mo ago

Just because you've made a mistake once, doesn't mean you need to make it again 😛

arion•2mo ago

:Dead: I... can't argue with that lol

blueberriesiftheywerecats•2mo ago

Oftop but what theme are you using?

arion•2mo ago

https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/16142-nightfall-theme but with custom color scheme

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