/**
 * An overloading example<p>
 * Write a method numberOfCharacters that counts how many characters are
 * needed to print its argument.<br>
 * The method should work with an int, a long, and a String.
 */

public class OverloadingExample {

    /**
     * postcondition:
     * result == number of characters to print a long
     * @param n the long to print
     */
    public int countCharactersToPrint(long n)
    {
        int count=1; // at least one character
        if (n<0){
            count++; // for the minus sign
            n=-n;
        }
        while( (n=n/10)!=0 ) count++;
        return count;

        // Or more clever
        // replace all of the above with
        // return (n+"").length();
    }

    /**
     * postcondition:
     * result == number of characters to print an integer
     * @param n the integer to print
     */
    public int countCharactersToPrint(int n)
    {
        return countCharactersToPrint((long)n);
    }

    /**
     * postcondition:
     * result == number of characters to print a String
     * @param s the String to print
     */
    public int countCharactersToPrint(String s)
    {
        if (s==null)
            return 4; // null is printed
        else
            return s.length();
    }
}