Golang method overriding examples

Prior Knowledge

1. Pointer and Value Receiver

package main

type V struct{}

func (*V) method() {}

func main() {
	var v V
	v.method() // This is also correct.
	p := &v
	p.method() // No problem.
}

Methods with pointer receivers can take either a value or a pointer as the receiver.
Methods and pointer indirection

package main

type V struct{}

func (V) method() {}

func main() {
	var v V
	v.method() // No problem.
	p := &v
	p.method() // This is also correct.
}

Methods with value receivers can take either a value or a pointer as the receiver.
Methods and pointer indirection (2)

Notes: Don’t be confused with “Which one implements the interface? Pointer or Value receiver?”. They are totally different things.

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2. Structs and embedding (from golang specification)

Given a struct type S and a defined type T, promoted methods are included in the method set of the struct as follows:

• If S contains an embedded field T, the method sets of S and *S both include promoted methods with receiver T. The method set of *S also includes promoted methods with receiver *T.
• If S contains an embedded field *T, the method sets of S and *S both include promoted methods with receiver T or *T.

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Code Example

Exercise (experiment):

package main

import (
	"fmt"
)

type base struct{}

func (*base) hello() {
	fmt.Println("hello from base")
}

type derived struct {
	base
}

func (derived) hello() {
	fmt.Println("hello from derived")
}

func main() {
	b := base{}
	b.hello()

	d := &derived{}
	d.hello()
}