Mastering Polymorphism with Virtual Functions in C++

The article "Virtual Function in C++" on GeeksforGeeks is a tutorial explaining the concept of virtual functions in C++ programming language.

C++ is an object-oriented programming language that allows you to define classes and objects, and virtual functions are one of the key features of object-oriented programming. A virtual function is a function that is declared in the base class and redefined in the derived class. The main purpose of virtual functions is to allow polymorphism, which means the ability of an object to take multiple forms.

The article starts with an introduction to virtual functions and explains how they can be used to achieve runtime polymorphism. It then provides a simple example of a program that uses virtual functions to implement polymorphism.

The article explains that virtual functions are declared in the base class using the keyword "virtual" and are redefined in the derived class. When a virtual function is called through a pointer or reference of the base class, the function that is called is determined at runtime based on the actual type of the object pointed to or referenced.

The article also discusses the concept of pure virtual functions, which are virtual functions that have no implementation in the base class. These functions are declared using the syntax "virtual returnType functionName() = 0;" and are intended to be overridden in the derived classes.

The article provides several examples of virtual functions in action, including a simple example of a Shape class with virtual functions for calculating the area and perimeter of different shapes, such as circles and rectangles. The article also shows how virtual functions can be used to implement abstract classes, which are classes that have at least one pure virtual function and cannot be instantiated.

Finally, the article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of virtual functions. The main advantage is that they allow polymorphism, which can simplify code and make it more flexible. However, virtual functions can also have performance implications, as they require additional overhead to determine the actual function to be called at runtime.

In summary, the article "Virtual Function in C++" on GeeksforGeeks provides a thorough introduction to the concept of virtual functions in C++, including how they can be used to achieve polymorphism, how to declare and define them, and the advantages and disadvantages of using them. The article provides numerous examples to illustrate these concepts and is a valuable resource for anyone learning C++ programming or object-oriented programming principles.

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