CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c++inheritance
Jude Thomas
Jude Thomas

Reputation: 13

C++ Inheritance change member

Currently learning more c++ and I have this question: Why do I have to use a function to change a member of a parent class instead of just changing it without the function?

class Shape{
private: 
  int a;
protected:
  int b;
public:
  int c;
};

class Rectangle: public Shape{
public:
  c = 123;
  void change_c(){c = 321;}
};

Upvotes: 1

Views: 91

Answers (1)

Remy Lebeau
Remy Lebeau

Reputation: 598434

Assigning a value to a variable, like in the statement c = 123;, is illegal outside of a variable declaration or an assignment performed within a function. Which means you can't perform it from within the class scope of a derived class:

class Rectangle: public Shape{
public:
  c = 123; // <-- illegal
  int d = 123; // <-- OK, in C++11 and later
  Rectangle() { c = 321; } // <-- OK
  void change_c(){ c = 321; } // <-- OK
}

Upvotes: 1

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