Resolving Ambiguities with Optional Parameters and Named Arguments

Question

I have two methods on my project as defined below:

void Person(int ID, double height = 0.0, string team = \"Knights\")
{
   //my codes
}
void Person(int ID, d         


        

Answer 1

The C# specification says in §7.5.3.2, regarding choosing a better overload:

If all parameters of [Method A] have a corresponding argument whereas default arguments need to be substituted for at least one optional parameter in [Method B] then [Method A] is better than [Method B].

When you specify a value for all parameters:

Person(1, 2.5, "Dark Ghost");

The above rule makes the first method a better candidate, and it is chosen as the correct overload.

When you don't:

Person(1, 46.5);

The rule does not apply, and the overload resolution is ambiguous.

---

You might say, why not choose the one with the least parameters? That seems fine at first, but causes a problem when you have something like this:

void Foobar(int a, string b = "foobar")
{
}

void Foobar(int a, int b = 0, int c = 42)
{
}

...

Foobar(1);

In this case there's no valid reason to choose the first one over the second. Thus you can only properly resolve this by supplying a value for all parameters.