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C++ Structures (struct)

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C++ Structures
Structures (also called structs) are a way to group
several related variables into one place. Each
variable in the structure is known as a member
of the structure.

Unlike an array, a structure can contain many

different data types (int, string, bool, etc.).

Create a Structure
To create a structure, use the struct keyword
and declare each of its members inside curly
braces.

After the declaration, specify the name of the

structure variable (myStructure in the example
below):

struct { // Structure
declaration
int myNum; // Member (int
variable)
string myString; // Member (string
variable)
} myStructure; // Structure
variable

Access Structure Members

To access members of a structure, use the dot
syntax ( . ):

Example
Assign data to members of a structure and print
it:

// Create a structure variable called

myStructure
struct {
int myNum;
string myString;
} myStructure;

// Assign values to members of

myStructure
myStructure.myNum = 1;
myStructure.myString = "Hello World!";

// Print members of myStructure

cout << myStructure.myNum << "\n";
cout << myStructure.myString << "\n";

Try it Yourself »

One Structure in Multiple

Variables
You can use a comma ( , ) to use one structure in
many variables:

struct {
int myNum;
string myString;
} myStruct1, myStruct2, myStruct3; //
Multiple structure variables separated
with commas

This example shows how to use a structure in two

different variables:

Example
Use one structure to represent two cars:

struct {
string brand;
string model;
int year;
} myCar1, myCar2; // We can add
variables by separating them with a
comma here

// Put data into the first structure

myCar1.brand = "BMW";
myCar1.model = "X5";
myCar1.year = 1999;

// Put data into the second structure

myCar2.brand = "Ford";
myCar2.model = "Mustang";
myCar2.year = 1969;

// Print the structure members

cout << myCar1.brand << " " <<
myCar1.model << " " << myCar1.year <<
"\n";
cout << myCar2.brand << " " <<
myCar2.model << " " << myCar2.year <<
"\n";

Try it Yourself »

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Named Structures
By giving a name to the structure, you can treat
it as a data type. This means that you can create
variables with this structure anywhere in the
program at any time.

To create a named structure, put the name of the

structure right after the struct keyword:

struct myDataType { // This structure

is named "myDataType"
int myNum;
string myString;
};

To declare a variable that uses the structure, use

the name of the structure as the data type of the
variable:

myDataType myVar;

Example
Use one structure to represent two cars:

// Declare a structure named "car"

struct car {
string brand;
string model;
int year;
};

int main() {
// Create a car structure and store
it in myCar1;
car myCar1;
myCar1.brand = "BMW";
myCar1.model = "X5";
myCar1.year = 1999;

// Create another car structure and

store it in myCar2;
car myCar2;
myCar2.brand = "Ford";
myCar2.model = "Mustang";
myCar2.year = 1969;

// Print the structure members

cout << myCar1.brand << " " <<
myCar1.model << " " << myCar1.year <<
"\n";
cout << myCar2.brand << " " <<
myCar2.model << " " << myCar2.year <<
"\n";

return 0;
}

Try it Yourself »

Exercise ?

What is a structure (or struct) in C++?

An array of integers

A function that performs calculations

A way to group related variables of

different data types

A data type that stores only strings

Submit Answer »

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