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Lecture 13

This document discusses virtual functions and polymorphism in C++. It explains that virtual functions allow derived classes to override functions from the base class. When a base class pointer points to a derived class object, calling a virtual function will execute the derived class's version. This allows polymorphic behavior where calling the same function can produce different results depending on the actual object type. The document provides an example using a Shape base class and Rectangle derived class to demonstrate how declaring the area() function virtual in the base class allows calling it via a base class pointer to correctly execute the Rectangle class's area() implementation.

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74 views3 pages

Lecture 13

This document discusses virtual functions and polymorphism in C++. It explains that virtual functions allow derived classes to override functions from the base class. When a base class pointer points to a derived class object, calling a virtual function will execute the derived class's version. This allows polymorphic behavior where calling the same function can produce different results depending on the actual object type. The document provides an example using a Shape base class and Rectangle derived class to demonstrate how declaring the area() function virtual in the base class allows calling it via a base class pointer to correctly execute the Rectangle class's area() implementation.

Uploaded by

hasib rainbowit
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Week 10: Lecture 19

Virtual Function and Polymorphism


In this article, you will learn about function overriding. Also, you will learn how can
assess the overridden function of the base class in C++ programming.

Inheritance allows software developers to derive a new class from the existing
class. The derived class inherits features of the base class (existing class).

Suppose, both base class and derived class have a member function with same
name and arguments (number and type of arguments).

If you create an object of the derived class and call the member function which
exists in both classes (base and derived), the member function of the derived class
is invoked and the function of the base class is ignored.

This feature in C++ is known as function overriding.

In C++, a pointer variable of a base class type can point to an object of its derived
class. There are situations when this feature of C++ can be used to develop generic
code for a variety of applications.

Pointer of base class


Consider the following program to understand pointer compatibility property

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class Shape
{
protected:
double width, height;
public:
void set_data (double a, double b)
{
width = a;
height = b;
}
};
class Rectangle: public Shape
{
public:
double area ()
{
return (width * height);
}
};

int main ()
{
Shape *sPtr; //declare pointer variables of type Shape
Rectangle Rect; //create the object rect of type Rectangle

sPtr = &Rect; //make sPtr point to the object rect.


sPtr->set_data (5,3); //set length and width of object rect

cout << sPtr -> area() << endl; //Compile Error !!

return 0;
}
Notice that even though rectPtr is pointing to rect (object of type Rectangle), when the program
executes, the statement sets length and width of rectangle. If you tried to access area function of
class Rectangle with sPtr it will give you compiler error.

sPtr -> area()

is a compiler error !

It means base class pointer can not access the additional member function of its derived
class. If we want to do this we need to type cast the base class pointer.

Using Type Casts with Base Class Pointers

We can use a type cast to get the compiler to accept the statement:

static_cast <Rectangle *> (sPtr)->area()

so we should write the statement

cout << static_cast <Rectangle *> (sPtr) -> area() << endl;

The type cast informs the compiler that sPtr is actually pointing to a Rectangle object derived
from the Shape base class. In general, a pointer to a base class that actually points to a
derived class object must first be appropriately cast before the additional features of the
derived class can be used.

Virtual Function

Virtual functions are used in C++ to support polymorphic behavior. We are modifying the above
program and will introduce you the concept of virtual function by following example:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

class Shape
{
protected:
double width, height;

public:
void set_data (double a, double b)
{
width = a;
height = b;
}

virtual double area()


{
return 0;
}
};

class Rectangle: public Shape


{
public:
double area ()
{
return (width * height);
}
};
int main ()
{
Shape *sPtr;
Rectangle Rect;

sPtr = &Rect;

sPtr -> set_data (5,3);


cout << sPtr -> area() << endl;

return 0;
}

Output : 15

A member of a class that can be redefined in its derived classes is known as a virtual member.

In order to declare a member of a class as virtual, we must precede its declaration with the
keyword virtual.

The member function area() has been declared as virtual in the base class because it is later
redefined in each derived class.

The advantage of having virtual function is that we are able to access area function of
derived class by pointer variable of base class.

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