C++ for Lazy Programmers: Quick, Easy, and Fun C++ for Beginners

© Will Briggs 2019

W. BriggsC++ for Lazy Programmershttps://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4842-5187-4_21

21. Virtual Functions and Multiple Inheritance

Will Briggs¹ 

(1)

Lynchburg, VA, USA

 

Virtual functions and multiple inheritance don’t show up in most classes I write – but when I need them, I need them.

Virtual functions

Polymorphism is, essentially, using the same word to mean different things. We’ve been doing it all along. Consider the operator +. We use it for adding ints and for adding doubles. And strings. These are conceptually similar, but they’re done very differently by the machine.

Another example might be a function start, which could apply to a car, a plane, or a lawn mower. In each case, the body of the function will be different (turning ...