In C# operator overloading, which of the following statements is correct?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: The conditional logical operators && and || cannot be overloaded directly.

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question tests precise knowledge of what C# allows (and forbids) in operator overloading. Many developers conflate operator overloading rules with behavior in other languages, so clarity here is essential for writing maintainable, correct code.



Given Data / Assumptions:

  • C# supports overloading many operators using the 'operator' keyword.
  • Some operators cannot be overloaded at all, while others are indirectly supported.
  • Equality and relational operators have special rules to avoid infinite recursion and inconsistencies.


Concept / Approach:
Remember two key facts: (1) You cannot overload the conditional logical operators '&&' and '||' directly; instead, overloading '&' and '|' plus providing 'true' and 'false' operators enables short-circuit semantics. (2) Compound assignments (+=, -=, etc.) are not overloaded separately; they are translated by the compiler into the underlying binary operator plus assignment.



Step-by-Step Solution:

Evaluate A: Correct. '&&' and '||' cannot be overloaded directly; you overload '&'/'|' and optionally 'true'/'false'.Evaluate B: Incorrect. You do not overload '+='; the compiler rewrites 'x += y' into 'x = x + y' (using your overloaded '+').Evaluate C: Incorrect. Calling the same '==' inside your '==' will recurse. Use ReferenceEquals or compare fields directly.Evaluate D: Incorrect. Any eligible type (including public reference types) may overload '=='/'!=', following the rules.Evaluate E: Incorrect. You cannot overload '[]'; you implement indexers instead (this is a language feature separate from operator overloading).


Verification / Alternative check:
Try declaring 'public static Type operator &&(Type a, Type b)'; the compiler rejects it. Implement an indexer with 'this[int i]'; no operator method is involved.



Why Other Options Are Wrong:
B misunderstands compound assignments; C leads to recursion; D is overly restrictive; E confuses indexers with operator overloading.



Common Pitfalls:
Assuming every visible operator token is overloadable; forgetting the special semantics for equality and conditional operators.



Final Answer:
The conditional logical operators && and || cannot be overloaded directly.

Discussion & Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Join Discussion