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Local Classes in C++

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Medium ● Last Updated :
16 Nov, 2021

A class declared inside a function becomes local to that function and is called Local

Class in C++.

A local class name can only be used locally i.e., inside the function and not outside

it.

The methods of a local class must be defined inside it only.

A local class can have static functions but, not static data members.

For example, in the following program, Test is a local class in fun(). 

CPP

// C++ program without any compilation error

// to demonstrate a Local Class
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
  
// Creating the class
void fun()
{
    // local to fun
    class Test {
        // members of Test class
    };
}
  
// Driver Code
int main() { return 0; }

Following are some interesting facts about Local Classes in C++:

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1) A local class type name can only be used in the enclosing function.

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For example, in the following program, declarations of t and tp are valid in fun(), but

invalid in main(). 

CPP

// A program without any compilation error to demonstrate

// that a local class type name can only be used
// in the enclosing function
  
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
  
void fun()
{
    // Local class
    class Test {
        // Body
    };
  
    Test t; // Fine
    Test* tp; // Fine
}
  
int main()
{
    Test t; // Error
    Test* tp; // Error
    return 0;
}

2) All the methods of Local classes must be defined inside the class only. For

example, program 1 works fine and program 2 fails in the compilation.

Program 1:

CPP

// C++ program without any compilation error to demonstrate

// that all the methods of Local classes must be defined
// inside the class only
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
  
void fun()
{
▲
    class Test // local to fun
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    {
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    public:
        // Fine as the method is defined
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        // inside the local class
        void method()
        {
            cout << "Local Class method() called";
        }
    };
  
    Test t;
    t.method();
}
  
int main()
{
    fun();
    return 0;
}

Output

Local Class method() called

Program 2:

CPP

// C++ program with compilation error to demonstrate that

// all the methods of Local classes must be defined inside
// the class only
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
  
void fun()
{
    class Test // local to fun
    {
    public:
        void method();
    };
  
    // Error as the method is defined outside the local
    // class
    void Test::method() { cout << "Local Class method()"; }
}
  
int main() { return 0; }
▲

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Output

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Compiler Error:

In function 'void fun()':

error: a function-definition is not allowed here before '{' token

3) A Local class cannot contain static data members. It may contain static functions

though. For example, program 1 fails in compilation, but program 2 works fine. 

Program 1:

CPP

// A program with compilation error to demonstrate that

// a Local class cannot contain static data members
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
  
void fun()
{
    class Test // local to fun
    {
        static int i;
    };
}
  
int main() { return 0; }

Output

Compiler Error:

In function 'void fun()':

error: local class 'class fun()::Test' shall not have static data member

Program 2:

CPP

// C++ program without any compilation error to demonstrate

// that a Local class cannot contain static data members
#include <iostream>
using namespace std; ▲

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void fun()
{
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    class Test // local to fun
    {
    public:
        static void method()
        {
            cout << "Local Class method() called";
        }
    };
  
    Test::method();
}
  
int main()
{
    fun();
    return 0;
}

Output

Local Class method() called

4) Member methods of the local class can only access static and enum variables of

the enclosing function. Non-static variables of the enclosing function are not

accessible inside local classes. For example, program 1 compiles and runs fine. But,

program 2 fails in the compilation.

Program 1:

CPP

// C++ program without any compilation error to demonstrate

// that member methods of local class can only access static
// and enum variables of the enclosing function
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
  
void fun()
{
    static int x;
    enum { i = 1, j = 2 };
  
    // Local class
    class Test {
    public: ▲

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        void method()
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        {
            cout << "x = " << x
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                 << endl; // fine as x is static
            cout << "i = " << i
                 << endl; // fine as i is enum
        }
    };
  
    Test t;
    t.method();
}
  
int main()
{
    fun();
    return 0;
}

Output

x = 0

i = 1

Program 2:

CPP

// C++ program with compilation error to demonstrate that

// member methods of local class can only access static
// and enum variables of the enclosing function
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
  
void fun()
{
    int x;
  
    // Local class
    class Test {
    public:
        void method() { cout << "x = " << x << endl; }
    };
  
    Test t;
    t.method();
}
  
int main() ▲

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6/21/22, 9:17 PM Local Classes in C++ - GeeksforGeeks

{
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    fun();
    return 0;
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}

Error:

prog.cpp: In member function ‘void fun()::Test::method()’:

prog.cpp:14:43: error: use of local variable with automatic storage from

containing function

         void method() { cout << “x = ” << x << endl; }

                                           ^

prog.cpp:9:9: note: ‘int x ’ declared here

     int x;

         ^

5) Local classes can access global types, variables, and functions. Also, local

classes can access other local classes of the same function. For example, the

following program works fine.

CPP

// C++ program without any compilation error to demonstrate

// that Local classes can access global types, variables and
// functions
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
  
int x;
  
void fun()
{
  
    // First Local class
    class Test1 {
    public:
        Test1() { cout << "Test1::Test1()" << endl; }
▲
    };
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    // Second Local class
    class Test2 {
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        // Fine: A local class can use other local classes
        // of same function
        Test1 t1;
  
    public:
        void method()
        {
            // Fine: Local class member methods can access
            // global variables.
            cout << "x = " << x << endl;
        }
    };
  
    Test2 t;
    t.method();
}
  
int main()
{
    fun();
    return 0;
}

Output

Test1::Test1()

x = 0

Must Read: Nested Classes in C++

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