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c++inheritancestruct
abbas
abbas

Reputation:

Struct inheritance in C++

Can a struct be inherited in C++?

Upvotes: 255

Views: 248597

Answers (6)

Rohan park
Rohan park

Reputation: 61

Yes, c++ struct is very similar to c++ class, except the fact that everything is publicly inherited, ( single / multilevel / hierarchical inheritance, but not hybrid and multiple inheritance ) here is a code for demonstration 

#include<bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;

struct parent
{
    int data;
    parent() : data(3){};           // default constructor
    parent(int x) : data(x){};      // parameterized constructor
};
struct child : parent
{
    int a , b;
    child(): a(1) , b(2){};             // default constructor
    child(int x, int y) : a(x) , b(y){};// parameterized constructor
    child(int x, int y,int z)           // parameterized constructor
    {
        a = x;
        b = y;
        data = z;
    }
    child(const child &C)               // copy constructor
    {
        a = C.a;
        b = C.b;
        data = C.data;
    }
};
int main()
{
   child c1 ,
         c2(10 , 20),
         c3(10 , 20, 30),
         c4(c3);

    auto print = [](const child &c) { cout<<c.a<<"\t"<<c.b<<"\t"<<c.data<<endl; };

    print(c1);
    print(c2);
    print(c3);
    print(c4);
}
OUTPUT 
1       2       3
10      20      3
10      20      30
10      20      30

Upvotes: 6

Neha Agrawal
Neha Agrawal

Reputation: 531

In C++, a structure's inheritance is the same as a class except the following differences:

When deriving a struct from a class/struct, the default access-specifier for a base class/struct is public. And when deriving a class, the default access specifier is private.

For example, program 1 fails with a compilation error and program 2 works fine.

// Program 1
#include <stdio.h>

class Base {
    public:
        int x;
};

class Derived : Base { }; // Is equivalent to class Derived : private Base {}

int main()
{
    Derived d;
    d.x = 20; // Compiler error because inheritance is private
    getchar();
    return 0;
}

// Program 2
#include <stdio.h>

struct Base {
    public:
        int x;
};

struct Derived : Base { }; // Is equivalent to struct Derived : public Base {}

int main()
{
    Derived d;
    d.x = 20; // Works fine because inheritance is public
    getchar();
    return 0;
}

Upvotes: 37

Evan Teran
Evan Teran

Reputation: 90432

Of course. In C++, structs and classes are nearly identical (things like defaulting to public instead of private are among the small differences).

Upvotes: 30

Chad Gorshing
Chad Gorshing

Reputation: 3118

Other than what Alex and Evan have already stated, I would like to add that a C++ struct is not like a C struct.

In C++, a struct can have methods, inheritance, etc. just like a C++ class.

Upvotes: 59

S.P
S.P

Reputation: 8756

Yes. The inheritance is public by default.

Syntax (example):

struct A { };
struct B : A { };
struct C : B { };

Upvotes: 164

Alex Martelli
Alex Martelli

Reputation: 881635

Yes, struct is exactly like class except the default accessibility is public for struct (while it's private for class).

Upvotes: 366

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