Ask Difference

Overwrite vs. Override — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on August 22, 2023
To overwrite is to replace existing data with new data. To override is to bypass or replace a previous command or decision.

Difference Between Overwrite and Override

ADVERTISEMENT

Key Differences

Overwrite generally refers to the act of replacing existing data with new data. It's akin to writing over something that already exists. On the other hand, override typically denotes the action of taking precedence over or bypassing a system, command, or decision.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 22, 2023
In the context of programming, overwrite can relate to the alteration of the content in memory locations. Override, in this context, often refers to a subclass in object-oriented programming providing a specific implementation of a method that is already defined by one of its superclasses. This new implementation takes precedence over the inherited method.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 22, 2023
When we talk about physical actions, to overwrite can mean to write over a previously written piece of text, such as striking out an error and writing the correction above it. Override, in a more physical context, could mean manually forcing a mechanism to operate despite an electronic or automated control suggesting otherwise, like overriding a locked security door to gain access.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 22, 2023
In everyday speech, overwrite might be used when discussing accidentally replacing a saved document on a computer with a new version. "I accidentally overwrote my essay with a blank document." Meanwhile, override can be used to signify going against a decision or authority. "The president's veto was overridden by a two-thirds majority in Congress."
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 22, 2023
The concepts of overwrite and override, though different, both involve the idea of one thing taking the place of another. Whether it's data being replaced or a decision being bypassed, the essence lies in the displacement or supersession of one by another.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 22, 2023

Comparison Chart

Definition

Replace existing data with new data.
Bypass or replace a previous command or decision.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 22, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT

Usage in Programming

Altering the content in memory locations.
A subclass providing a specific implementation.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 22, 2023

Physical Context

Writing over a previously written text.
Manually forcing a mechanism to operate.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 22, 2023

Everyday Example

Replacing a saved document with a new version.
Going against a decision or authority.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 22, 2023

Underlying Concept

One piece of data replacing another.
One decision or command taking precedence.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 22, 2023

Definitions

Overwrite

Replace existing information with new information.
I accidentally overwrote my project with an older version.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 22, 2023

Override

To set aside or nullify, especially through superior force or authority.
The manager can override the automated denial.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 22, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT

Overwrite

To write on top of existing text.
He overwrote the incorrect word with the right one in pen.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 22, 2023

Override

To prevail over or dominate.
Her fear of heights was overridden by her desire to see the view.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 22, 2023

Overwrite

To supersede data in a storage medium.
When she saved the document, it overwrote the original file.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 22, 2023

Override

Use one's authority to reject or cancel (a decision, view, etc.)
The courts will ultimately override any objections
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Overwrite

To obliterate with a layer of something.
The graffiti was overwritten with a coat of paint.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 22, 2023

Override

Ride (a horse) too hard
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Overwrite

To cover original markings or inscriptions.
The ancient manuscript had been overwritten multiple times.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 22, 2023

Override

To trample on.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Overwrite

Write too elaborately or ornately
There is a tendency to overwrite their parts and fall into cliché
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

Counteract the normal operation of (an automatic gear shift in a vehicle)
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Overwrite

Write on top of (other writing)
Many names had been scratched out or overwritten
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

To replace a method or property inherited from an ancestor class.
In this subclass, we override the base class's method.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 22, 2023

Overwrite

(in insurance) accept more risk than the premium income limits allow.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

To ride across.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Overwrite

To cover (something) with writing.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

To ride beyond.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Overwrite

To write about in an artificial or an excessively elaborate, wordy style.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

To ride (a horse) too hard.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Overwrite

To destroy or lose (old data) by recording new data over it
Accidentally overwrote an important document.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

To prevail over; conquer
Budgetary concerns overrode all other considerations.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Overwrite

To record (new data) on top of already stored data, thus destroying the old data
Overwrote an updated document on top of an earlier draft.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

To declare null and void; set aside
Overrode the president's veto.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Overwrite

To write artificial, excessively elaborate, or wordy prose.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

To counteract the normal operation of (an automatic control).
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Overwrite

To destroy (older) data by recording new data over it.
I accidentally saved my unwanted changes and overwrote the version of the document I wanted to keep.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

See royalty.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Overwrite

(transitive) To cover in writing; to write over the top of.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

A mechanism or system used to counteract an automatic control.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Overwrite

(ambitransitive) To write too much.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

The act or an instance of nullifying.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Overwrite

(ambitransitive) To write in an unnecessarily complicated or florid way; to produce purple prose.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

To ride across or beyond something.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Overwrite

(computing) The operation of destroying older data by recording new data over it.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

To ride a horse too hard.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Overwrite

Write new data on top of existing data and thus erase the previously existing data;
Overwrite that file
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

To counteract the normal operation of something; to countermand with orders of higher priority.
Congress promptly overrode the president's veto, passing the bill into law.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

A royalty.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

A device for prioritizing audio signals, such that certain signals receive priority over others.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

(object-oriented) A method with the same name and signature as a method in a superclass, which runs instead of that method, when an object of the subclass is involved.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

To ride over or across; to ride upon; to trample down.
The carter overridden with [i. e., by] his cart.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

To suppress; to destroy; to supersede; to annul; to nullify; as, one law overrides another; to override a veto.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

To countermand; to overrule; as, a supervisor may override the decision of a subordinate.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

To replace (one system with another); as, the pilot overrode the automatic pilot and took manual control of the airplane.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

To ride beyond; to pass; to outride.
I overrode him on the way.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

To ride too much; to ride, as a horse, beyond its strength.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

A manually operated device to correct the operation of an automatic device
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

The act of nullifying; making null and void; counteracting or overriding the effect or force of something
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

Rule against;
The Republicans were overruled when the House voted on the bill
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

Prevail over;
Health considerations override financial concerns
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

To bypass or circumvent.
The alarm system has a code to override it during emergencies.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 22, 2023

Override

To overpower or overrun.
The demand for the product quickly overrode the available supply.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 22, 2023

Override

Interrupt the action of (an automatic device), typically in order to take manual control
You can override the cut-out by releasing the switch
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

Extend over; overlap
The external rendering should not override the damp-proof membrane
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

Travel or move over
Overriding by vehicles is implicated in over half the cases of footway damage
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

A device for suspending an automatic function on a machine
The flash has to have a manual override to be useful
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

An excess or increase on a budget, salary, or cost
Commission overrides give established carriers an unfair advantage
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

A cancellation of a decision by exertion of authority or winning of votes
The House vote in favour of the bill was 10 votes short of the requisite majority for an override
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

To extend over; overlap.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

A sales commission collected by an executive in addition to the commission received by a subordinate salesperson.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

To ride over the top of something, usually forcibly.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

To give commands of a higher priority to an automated system; to take manual control of an automated system
Manual controls allow the user to override the camera's default settings.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

(object-oriented) To define a new behaviour of a method by creating the same method of the superclass with the same name and signature.
How the cat runs is defined in the method run() of the class Cat, which overrides the same method with the same signature of superclass called Mammal.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

Override

A mechanism, device or procedure used to counteract an automatic control.
Tayyaba Rehman
Feb 11, 2019

FAQs

Can overwritten data be recovered?

In many cases, once data is overwritten, especially on digital storage devices, it becomes very difficult or impossible to recover the original data.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 22, 2023

How is override used in programming?

In programming, especially object-oriented programming, override refers to a subclass providing its own specific implementation of a method that's already defined in one of its superclasses.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 22, 2023

Is overwriting the same as deleting?

No, overwriting involves replacing existing data with new data, whereas deleting is removing data altogether.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 22, 2023

What are the consequences of overriding in coding?

In coding, overriding allows a subclass to change the behavior of a method from its superclass, enabling more specialized behavior.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 22, 2023

In what context might someone unintentionally overwrite something?

Someone might unintentionally overwrite a document or file when saving a new version with the same name without realizing the original will be replaced.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 22, 2023

Do overwrite and override mean the same in all contexts?

No, while both involve one thing taking the place of another, overwrite typically pertains to replacing data, while override relates to bypassing or taking precedence over a decision or command.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 22, 2023

How do overwrite and override differ in the context of authority?

Overwriting in the context of authority might involve replacing or updating a directive, while overriding suggests going against or overruling an existing decision or directive.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 22, 2023

What does it mean to overwrite data?

Overwriting data means replacing current data with new data, often resulting in the loss of the original data.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 22, 2023

When might one need to override a decision?

One might need to override a decision when a higher authority or subsequent piece of information necessitates a change from the original choice.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 22, 2023

Is overriding always an intentional action?

While overriding is typically intentional, especially in contexts like programming, in daily life, decisions or actions may be overridden due to unforeseen circumstances or new information.
Tayyaba Rehman
Aug 22, 2023

Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

Popular Comparisons

Featured Comparisons

Trending Comparisons

New Phrases