Exploring C++ 11, Second Edition

EXPLORATION 35

Access Levels

Everyone has secrets, some of us more than others. Classes have secrets too. For example: Throughout this book, you have used the std::string class without having any notion of what goes on inside the class. The implementation details are secrets—not closely guarded secrets, but secrets nonetheless. You cannot directly examine or modify any of string’s data members. Instead, it presents quite a few member functions that make up its public interface. You are free to use any of the publicly available member functions, but only the publicly available member functions. This Exploration explains how you can do the same ...