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Pure Virtual Functions
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implementation of all functions cannot be provided in a base
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class because we don’t know the implementation. Such a class is called an
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abstract class.For example, let Shape be a base class. We cannot provide
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the implementation of function draw()
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class must have an implementation of draw(). Similarly, an Animal class
or
doesn’t have the implementation of move() (assuming that all animals
move),
but all animals must know how to move.
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abstract classes.
A pure LinkedIn
virtual function in C++ is aGitHub
(or abstract function) virtual function for
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which we can have an implementation, But we must override that function in
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the derived class, otherwise, the derived class will also become an abstract
class. A pure virtual function is declared by assigning 0 in the declaration.
Example of Pure Virtual Functions
C++
// An abstract class
class Test {
// Data members of class
public:
// Pure Virtual Function
virtual void show() = 0;
/* Other members */
};
Complete Example
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A pure virtual function is implemented by classes that are derived from an
Abstract class.
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C++
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// C++ Program to illustrate the abstract class and virtual
// functions
#include <iostream>
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using namespace std;
class Base {
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// private member variable
int x;
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public:
// pure virtual function
virtual void fun() = 0;
or
// getter function to access x
int getX() { return x; }
};
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// This class inherits from Base and implements fun()
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class Derived : public Base {
// private member variableWhy Create an Account?
int y; By creating this account, you agree to our Privacy Policy & Cookie Policy.
public:
// implementation of the pure virtual function
void fun() { cout << "fun() called"; }
};
int main(void)
{
// creating an object of Derived class
Derived d;
// calling the fun() function of Derived class
d.fun();
return 0;
}
Output
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Some Interesting Facts
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1. A class is abstract if it has at least one pure virtual function.
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Example
C++ code, Test is an abstract class
In the below
LinkedIn because it has a pure virtual GitHub
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function show().
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C++
// C++ program to illustrate the abstract class with pure
// virtual functions
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class Test {
// private member variable
int x;
public:
// pure virtual function
virtual void show() = 0;
// getter function to access x
int getX() { return x; }
};
int main(void)
{
// Error: Cannot instantiate an abstract class
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Test t;
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return 0;
}
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Output
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Compiler Error: cannot declare variable 't' to be of abstract
type 'Test' because the following virtual functions are pure
within 'Test': note: virtual void Test::show()
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2. We can have pointers and references of abstract class type.
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For example, the following program works fine.
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C++
// C++ program that demonstrate that or
// we can have pointers and references
// of abstract class type.
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#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
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class Base { Why Create an Account?
public: By creating this account, you agree to our Privacy Policy & Cookie Policy.
// pure virtual function
virtual void show() = 0;
};
class Derived : public Base {
public:
// implementation of the pure virtual function
void show() { cout << "In Derived \n"; }
};
int main(void)
{
// creating a pointer of type
// Base pointing to an object
// of type Derived
Base* bp = new Derived();
// calling the show() function using the
// pointer
bp->show();
return 0;
}
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Output
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3. If we do not override the pure virtual function in the derived class, then
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the derived classSign
alsoInbecomes an abstract class.
The following example demonstrates the same.
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C++
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// C++ program to demonstrate that if we do not override
// the pure virtual
Remember me function in the derived class, then
// the derived class also becomes an abstract class Forgot Password
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
or
class Base {
public: Google Facebook
// pure virtual function
virtual void show() = 0;
}; LinkedIn GitHub
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class Derived : public Base {
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};
int main(void)
{
// creating an object of Derived class
Derived d;
return 0;
}
Output
Compiler Error: cannot declare variable 'd' to be of abstract type
'Derived' because the following virtual functions are pure within
'Derived': virtual void Base::show()
4. An abstract class can have constructors.
For example, the following program compiles and runs fine.
C++
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// C++ program to demonstrate that
// an abstract class can Please
have constructors.
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#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
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// An abstract class with constructor
class Base {
protected:
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// protected member variable
int x;
public:
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// pure virtual
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virtual void fun() = 0; Forgot Password
// constructor of Base class
Base(int i)
{ or
x = i;
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cout << "Constructor of base called\n"; Facebook
}
};
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class Derived : public Base { Why Create an Account?
// private member variable
int y; By creating this account, you agree to our Privacy Policy & Cookie Policy.
public:
// calling the constructor of Base class
Derived(int i, int j)
: Base(i)
{
y = j;
}
// implementation of pure virtual function
void fun()
{
cout << "x = " << x << ", y = " << y << '\n';
}
};
int main(void)
{
// creating an object of Derived class
Derived d(4, 5);
// calling the fun() function of Derived class
d.fun();
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// creating an object of Derived class using
// a pointer of the Base class
Base* ptr = new Derived(6, 7);
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// calling the fun() function using the ×
// pointer
ptr->fun();
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return 0;
}
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Output
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Constructor of base called
x = 4, Remember
y = 5 me
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Constructor of base called
x = 6, y = 7
or
5. An abstract class in C++ can also be defined using struct keyword.
Example Google Facebook
struct shapeClassLinkedIn
GitHub
{
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virtual void Draw()=0;
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}
Comparison with Java
In Java, a class can be made abstract by using an abstract keyword. Similarly,
a function can be made pure virtual or abstract by using an abstract
keyword. See Abstract Classes in Java for more details.
Interface vs Abstract Classes
An interface does not have an implementation of any of its methods, it can
be considered as a collection of method declarations. In C++, an interface
can be simulated by making all methods pure virtual. In Java, there is a
separate keyword for the interface.
We can think of Interface as header files in C++, like in header files we only
provide the body of the class that is going to implement it. Similarly in Java
in Interface we only provide the body of the class and we write the actual
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code in whatever class implements it.
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