What is the difference between overloading and overriding?

Answer

Overloading declares different parameter signatures; overriding replaces inherited instance behavior. • Overload resolution is compile-time. • Override dispatch is run-time for instance methods. • Return type alone cannot overload, while overriding can use a covariant return.

Example

class Parent { Number value() { return 1; } }
class Child extends Parent { @Override Integer value() { return 2; } }
static int sum(int a, int b) { return a + b; }

Quick Revision

Overloading changes parameters; overriding changes inherited instance implementation.