Re: Just curious...

From:
Victor Bazarov <v.bazarov@comcast.invalid>
Newsgroups:
comp.lang.c++
Date:
Sat, 05 Jan 2013 07:56:30 -0500
Message-ID:
<kc97ue$tlv$1@dont-email.me>
On 1/5/2013 4:57 AM, ctgqumgf@sharklasers.com wrote:

Am Samstag, 5. Januar 2013 09:33:56 UTC+1 schrieb Giuliano Bertoletti:

Hello, is it correct that the compiler does not issue an error on
the

following code? ===================== class Shape { public: void
myfunction(); }; class Polygon : public Shape { public: // does not
define myfunction }; class Hexagon : public Polygon { public: void
myfunction() { Polygon::myfunction(); // why does it compile? } };
===================== I mean, what is the benefit of implicitly calling
Shape::myfunction and not issuing an error when I'm explicitly asking to
call a non existing Polygon::myfunction? Giulio.

Because that's exactly what public inheritance is for! A method defines
a certain functionality. Inheriting and NOT overriding a method means


Just a nitpick: you should only use the term 'overriding' when talking
about virtual functions. In the OP's example the function is not
virtual so no "overriding" can occur. You can *redefine* the function
in the derived class, but it will not *override* unless the function is
virtual and has the same type.

the drived class has (wants to have) the same behaviour as the base class.
Some people call this phenomenon "reuse". A good starting point is
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inheritance_(object-oriented_programming)


V
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