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7.3: Structures in C++ (cont'd)

  • Page ID
    34673
  • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    2) When deriving a struct from a class/struct, default access-specifier for a base class/struct is public. And when deriving a class, default access specifier is private.
    For example program 3 fails in compilation and program 4 works fine.

    // Program 3
    #include <iostream>
    using namespace.std;
    
    class Base {
        public:
        int x;
    };
    
    class Derived : Base { }; // is equilalent to class Derived : private Base {}
    
    int main()
    {
        Derived d;
        d.x = 20; // compiler error becuase inheritance is private
          
        return 0;
    } 
    
    So...if we use a struct instead of class we get a different result
     
    // Program 4
    #include <iostream>
    using namespace std;
    
    class Base {
        public:
            int x;
    };
    
    struct Derived : Base { }; // is equilalent to struct Derived : public Base {}
    
    int main()
    {
        Derived d;
        d.x = 20; // works fine becuase inheritance is public
        return 0;
    } 
    

    Adapted from:
    "Structure vs class in C++" by roopkathaGeeks for Geeks is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 


    This page titled 7.3: Structures in C++ (cont'd) is shared under a CC BY-SA license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Patrick McClanahan.

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