CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c++classheader-files
Learner
Learner

Reputation: 101

When to create header file only classes

I'm learning c++ (not my choice) and faced some classes with no .cpp file. I was told that classes should be implemented in 2 files : header file (.h) and source file (.cpp) but it seems it's not always like this. My question is : When and why it is preferred to implement class methods in header file (.h) and when it's not?

Upvotes: 4

Views: 1239

Answers (1)

Yunnosch
Yunnosch

Reputation: 26703

Implementations of templated classes practically have to go into headers (though see alternatives described in the link below).
Non-templated classes are indeed recommended to be split as you describe.

See Why can templates only be implemented in the header file?

Some libraries (header-only libs) consist only of headers and that is a special design decision. They have pros and cons, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Header-only
I think that is probably not what you are asking about, but the contribution (in a comment on this answer, by user super) is worth mentioning.

Upvotes: 2

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