Why doesn't Java offer operator overloading?

Question

Coming from C++ to Java, the obvious unanswered question is why didn\'t Java include operator overloading?

Isn\'t Complex a, b, c; a = b + c; much simpl

Answer 1

Assuming Java as the implementation language then a, b, and c would all be references to type Complex with initial values of null. Also assuming that Complex is immutable as the mentioned BigInteger and similar immutable BigDecimal, I'd I think you mean the following, as you're assigning the reference to the Complex returned from adding b and c, and not comparing this reference to a.

Isn't :

Complex a, b, c; a = b + c;

much simpler than:

Complex a, b, c; a = b.add(c);