Question

I just came across various overloading methods like type of parameter passed, varying number of parameters, return type etc. I just want to know that can I overload a function with following two version

//function which can modify member
String& MyClass::doSomething();

//constant member function
String& MyClass::doSomething() const;

Please let me know the reason behind it.

Answer 1

Yes you can.

If you have

MyClass m;
m.doSomething();

The non-const version will be called. When you have

const MyClass m;
m.doSomething();

The const version will be called.