Overloading

Question

Thanks in advance to all,
I need one information
Most built-in functions are overloaded.
For example, the function TO_CHAR in the package STANDARD has
four different declarations
The function can take either the DATE or the NUMBER
FUNCTION TO_CHAR (p1 DATE) RETURN VARCHAR2;
FUNCTION TO_CHAR (p2 NUMBER) RETURN VARCHAR2;
Instead, I have some funtion as
FUNCTION GET_DESC (table_name IN VARCHAR2,.....) RETURN varchar2
FUNCTION GET_DESN (table_name IN VARCHAR2,.....) RETURN NUMBER
FUNCTION GET_DESD (table_name IN VARCHAR2,.....) RETURN DATE
have same 'In' parameter but different 'OUT' datatype return Parameter.
Of course, I can use TO_CHAR,TO_NUMBER, TO_DATE with same return parameter (ex: VARCHAR2)
my question is, Does another method exist similar to the overloding?
Thanks in advance for any help

Answer 1

Not possible.
Check documentation at http://download-east.oracle.com/docs/cd/B19306_01/appdev.102/b14261/subprograms.htm.
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You cannot overload two functions that differ only in the datatype of the return value, even if the types are in different families. For example, you cannot overload two functions where one returns BOOLEAN and the other returns INTEGER.
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