overload_stream_insert.md

Overloading the Stream Insertion Operator

The stream insertion operator should insert an object into the stream and return the stream to allow for chaining of the operator.

Example

struct point { int x, y; };

std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& out,
                         point p) {
    return out << p.x << ' ' << p.y; 
}

Here, p.x and p.y will be inserted into the stream, separated by a space.