scala - Overriding arithmetic operators on Int via implicit conversions

Question

Say that, for aesthetical reasons, I want to be able to write:

3 / 4

and have / be a method on a class that there exists an implicit conversion from Int to, e.g.:

class Foo(val i: Int) {
  def /(that: Int) = // something
}

implicit def intToFoo(i: Int) = new Foo(i)

Is this at all possible, i.e. is it possible to "disable" the / method on Int?

Answer 1

In short: No, you can't.

Implicit resolution will only take place if you attempt to call a method that doesn't already exist.

A more "idiomatic" solution would be to create your own pseudo-number type, something like:

case class Rational(a: Int, b: Int) {
  // other methods
}

val foo = Rational(3, 4)

or

case class Path(value: String) {
  def /(other: String): Path = ...
}

val p = Path("3") / "4"