C++ Primer Plus, Fourth Edition

Abstract Base Classes

So far you've seen simple inheritance and the more intricate polymorphic inheritance. The next step in increasing sophistication is the abstract base class, or ABC. Let's look at some programming situations that provide the background for the ABC.

Sometimes the application of the is-a rule is not as simple as it might appear. Suppose, for example, you are developing a graphics program that is supposed to represent, among other things, circles and ellipses. A circle is a special case of an ellipse; it's an ellipse whose long axis is the same as its short axis. Therefore, all circles are ellipses, and it is tempting to derive a Circle class from an Ellipse class. But once you get to the details, you may find problems.

To see ...