What is a virtual function in C++?

Virtual functions stand as a fundamental concept and a cornerstone of object-oriented design. They hold the key to unleashing the power of polymorphism, enabling code that adapts dynamically to changing conditions and fostering the creation of flexible and extensible software systems.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore what is a virtual function in C++ in depth. You will not only grasp the essence of what virtual functions are but also understand when and why to use them, distinguish between virtual and abstract functions, learn the syntax for declaring and using virtual functions, and discover best practices to leverage their potential for crafting robust and maintainable C++ code.

Table of Contents:

What is a Virtual Function in C++?

When to use Virtual Function in C++?

How do Virtual Functions contribute to Polymorphism?

Difference between Virtual Functions and Abstract Functions

Declaring and using Virtual Functions in C++

How do Virtual Functions work at runtime?

Overriding Virtual Function

Pure Virtual Function

Best Practices for Virtual Function in C++

Conclusion

What is a Virtual Function in C++?

A virtual function in C++ is a member function declared within a base class (or parent class) that can be overridden by derived classes (or subclasses). This feature is a fundamental part of object-oriented programming (OOP) in C++ and is used to achieve polymorphism.

When a function is declared as virtual in the base class, it indicates to the compiler that it should use dynamic binding or late binding to determine which version of the function to execute based on the actual runtime type of the object.

In practice, this means that when you call a virtual function on an object through a base class pointer or reference, the specific implementation of that function associated with the derived class of the object will be invoked, rather than the implementation defined in the base class.

When to use Virtual Function in C++?

• You should use virtual functions in C++ when you want to enable polymorphism in your code.

• Use virtual functions in scenarios where you have a base class with a common behavior or interface that can be specialized or customized by derived classes.

• When different derived classes need to provide their own unique implementations of a function with the same name and signature, you should declare that function as virtual in the base class.

• Virtual functions are especially useful when you want to write code that can be extended in the future without modifying the existing codebase.

• Virtual functions enable you to add new derived classes with their own implementations of the virtual functions without altering the existing code that uses the base class.

How do Virtual Functions Contribute to Polymorphism?

Polymorphism means "many forms," and it allows you to treat objects of different derived classes uniformly through a common interface (base class).

Virtual functions enable polymorphism by implementing dynamic dispatch or late binding. When you call a virtual function on a base class pointer or reference that points to an object of a derived class, the C++ runtime system determines the actual type of the object and invokes the appropriate derived class implementation of the virtual function.

This dynamic behavior allows you to write code that operates on base class pointers or references but adapts to the specific behaviors of the derived classes at runtime. It facilitates code reuse, extensibility, and flexibility, making your programs more maintainable and adaptable to future changes.

Virtual functions contribute to polymorphism in C++ by allowing you to write code that works with objects of different derived classes in a consistent and extensible manner, enabling late binding based on the actual runtime types of objects.

Difference between Virtual Functions and Abstract Functions

Here, we'll highlight the difference between virtual functions and abstract functions in C++:

Aspect	Virtual Functions	Abstract Functions
Definition	Virtual functions are member functions declared in a base class with the virtual keyword. They can be overridden in derived classes.	Abstract functions (also called pure virtual functions) are declared in a base class with the virtual keyword and the = 0 syntax. They have no implementation in the base class and must be overridden in derived classes.
Implementation in Base Class	Virtual functions can have a default implementation in the base class, which can be optionally overridden in derived classes.	Abstract functions have no implementation in the base class; they are meant to be overridden by derived classes to provide specific implementations.
Object Creation	Objects of the base class can be created, but you cannot create objects of the base class if it contains abstract functions (compiler error).	Objects of the base class cannot be created if it contains abstract functions (compiler error). You can only create objects of derived classes.
Role in Polymorphism	Virtual functions enable runtime polymorphism by allowing dynamic dispatch based on the actual type of the object.	Abstract functions are a way to enforce a common interface in derived classes and also enable runtime polymorphism when implemented in derived classes.
Required Override	Overriding a virtual function in derived classes is optional. If not overridden, the base class implementation is used.	Overriding an abstract function in derived classes is mandatory; otherwise, the derived class becomes abstract as well, and objects of it cannot be created.
Base Class Usability	Base class with virtual functions can be used to create objects and provide a default behavior.	Base class with abstract functions cannot be instantiated and is typically used to define a common interface for derived classes.
Example	cpp class Base { virtual void foo() { /* Default implementation */ } };	cpp class Base { virtual void pure_virtual() = 0; };

Differentiating between virtual functions and abstract functions in C++ allows developers to strike a balance between providing default behavior with customization options (virtual functions) and enforcing a consistent interface with mandatory implementations (abstract functions).

The choice between the two depends on the design goals and requirements of the software being developed.

Declaring and using Virtual Functions in C++

To declare and implement virtual functions in C++, you typically follow these steps:

1. Declaration in the Base Class: In the base class (also known as the parent or superclass), you declare a virtual function by using the virtual keyword followed by the return type, function name, and parameter list (if any). Here's the syntax for declaring a virtual function:

class Base { 
public:     
    virtual ReturnType FunctionName(ParameterType1 param1, ParameterType2 param2, ...) 
    {         
        // Function implementation in the base class (optional)     
    } 
}; 

2. Optional Implementation in the Base Class: You can provide an optional default implementation of the virtual function in the base class. This implementation can be used when a derived class chooses not to override the function.

3. Override in Derived Classes: In the derived classes (subclasses), you can override the virtual function by using the override keyword. This is optional but recommended for clarity and to ensure that you are indeed overriding a virtual function from the base class. The overridden function in the derived class must have the same return type, function name, and parameter list.

Here's the syntax for overriding a virtual function:

class Derived : public Base { 
public:     
    ReturnType FunctionName(ParameterType1 param1, ParameterType2 param2, ...) override 
    {         
        // Derived class-specific implementation     
    } 
}; 

4. Usage with Objects: You can create objects of both the base class and derived classes. When you call the virtual function on an object through a base class pointer or reference, the actual implementation that gets executed is determined at runtime based on the type of the object.

Examples to Illustrate Virtual Function in C++:

Let's consider a simple example involving a base class Shape and two derived classes, Circle and Rectangle. We'll declare a virtual function area() to calculate the area of each shape:

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

// Base class
class Shape {
public:
    virtual double area() {
        return 0.0; // Default implementation for base class
    }
};

// Derived class 1
class Circle : public Shape {
private:
    double radius;

public:
    Circle(double r) : radius(r) {}

    double area() override {
        return 3.141592653589793 * radius * radius; // Calculate area for a circle
    }
};

// Derived class 2
class Rectangle : public Shape {
private:
    double length;
    double width;

public:
    Rectangle(double l, double w) : length(l), width(w) {}

    double area() override {
        return length * width; // Calculate area for a rectangle
    }
};

int main() {
    Shape* shapePtr;
    Circle circle(5.0);
    Rectangle rectangle(4.0, 6.0);

    shapePtr = &circle;
    cout << "Circle Area: " << shapePtr->area() << endl; // Calls Circle's area()

    shapePtr = &rectangle;
    cout << "Rectangle Area: " << shapePtr->area() << endl; // Calls Rectangle's area()
    
    return 0;
}

Output:

In this example, we have a base class Shape with a virtual function area(). Both Circle and Rectangle classes override the area() function with their specific implementations.

In the main() function, we demonstrate polymorphism by assigning objects of derived classes to a base class pointer (shapePtr) and calling the area() function on them.

The correct overridden implementation is called for each shape type, demonstrating the power of virtual functions and polymorphism.

How do Virtual Functions work at runtime?

When a virtual function is called, the compiler does not know which implementation of the function to call. Instead, it defers the decision to the runtime system. At runtime, the runtime system will determine the type of the object that the function is being called on and call the appropriate implementation of the function.

Consider the below example where a base class called Animal and two derived classes called Dog and Cat. The Animal class has a virtual function called speak(). The Dog class and the Cat class both override the speak() function.

class Animal {
public:
  virtual void speak() = 0; // pure virtual function
};

class Dog : public Animal {
public:
  void speak() override {
    std::cout << "Woof!" << std::endl;
  }
};

class Cat : public Animal {
public:
  void speak() override {
    std::cout << "Meow!" << std::endl;
  }
};

int main() {
  Animal* animal = new Dog();
  animal->speak(); // prints "Woof!"

  animal = new Cat();
  animal->speak(); // prints "Meow!"

  return 0;
}

In this example, the speak() function is called on a pointer to an Animal object. The runtime system will determine that the pointer is pointing to a Dog object, so it will call the speak() function in the Dog class.

The following is a step-by-step explanation of how the virtual function call is resolved at runtime:

1. The compiler generates code that calls the speak() function.

2. The runtime system determines the type of the object that the function is being called on.

3. The runtime system looks up the implementation of the speak() function in the object's class.

4. The runtime system calls the implementation of the speak() function.

Overriding Virtual Function in C++

Overriding is the process of providing a new implementation for a virtual function in a derived class that has the same name, return type, and parameters as the virtual function in the base class.

The override keyword is used in the derived class to explicitly indicate that you intend to override a virtual function. It helps catch errors if the function signature doesn't match the base class's virtual function.

class Base {
public:
    virtual void print() {
        cout << "Base class" << endl;
    }
};

class Derived : public Base {
public:
    void print() override { // Using 'override' keyword
        cout << "Derived class" << endl;
    }
};

Pros:

1. Flexibility and Extensibility: Overriding virtual functions in derived classes allows for flexibility and extensibility in your code. You can add new derived classes with specialized behavior without modifying existing code in the base class.

2. Default Behavior: Virtual functions can have default implementations in the base class, which can be useful when multiple derived classes share some common behavior. Derived classes can choose to override only what's necessary.

3. Selective Overriding: Derived classes have the option to selectively override virtual functions. They can choose to override only the methods that need custom behavior, leaving others to use the base class's implementation.

Cons:

1. Complexity: As the number of derived classes increases, managing and maintaining a large hierarchy of overridden virtual functions can become complex and may require careful design and documentation.

2. Runtime Overhead: The use of virtual functions introduces a slight runtime overhead due to the need for dynamic dispatch. This overhead is usually negligible but can be a concern in performance-critical applications.

Pure Virtual Function in C++

A pure virtual function is a virtual function declared in a base class that has no implementation in the base class. It is declared using the virtual keyword followed by = 0.

Pure virtual functions serve as a contract, ensuring that derived classes must provide their own implementation for this function.

class AbstractBase {
public:
    virtual void doSomething() = 0; // Pure virtual function
};

class Derived1 : public AbstractBase {
public:
    void doSomething() override {
        cout << "Derived1 implementation" << endl;
    }
};

class Derived2 : public AbstractBase {
public:
    void doSomething() override {
        cout << "Derived2 implementation" << endl;
    }
};

Pros:

1. Forced Implementation: Pure virtual functions force derived classes to provide their own implementations. This ensures that every derived class adheres to a certain contract, making the code more robust.

2. Clear Interface: Pure virtual functions define a clear interface or API that derived classes must follow. This makes it easier for developers to understand the expected behavior of derived classes.

3. Abstract Base Classes: Pure virtual functions are often used in abstract base classes, which cannot be instantiated. This prevents the creation of objects from incomplete or partially implemented classes.

Cons:

1. Inflexibility: Using pure virtual functions can be less flexible because every derived class must provide an implementation. This can be restrictive when you want to create derived classes that share a common default behavior from the base class.

2. Increased Coupling: The use of pure virtual functions tightly couples derived classes to the base class interface. Any changes to the base class interface require corresponding changes in all derived classes.

3. Complexity for Simple Cases: Using pure virtual functions for simple cases where you don't necessarily need every derived class to provide an implementation may introduce unnecessary complexity.

Best Practices for Virtual Function in C++

Here are some best practices for using virtual functions in C++:

• Use virtual functions only when necessary. Virtual functions can add some performance overhead, so you should only use them when you need to achieve polymorphism.

• Use the override keyword when overriding a virtual function. The override keyword helps to prevent errors and improve code readability.

• Mark pure virtual functions with the = 0 syntax. Pure virtual functions are required to be overridden by derived classes.

• Use virtual functions sparingly in base classes. Too many virtual functions in a base class can make code more complex and difficult to understand.

• Use virtual functions in templates to achieve polymorphism in generic code.

• Be aware of the performance impact of virtual functions. Virtual functions can add some performance overhead, so you should be aware of this when using them.

Conclusion

The article "What is a Virtual Function in C++" has taught you that Virtual functions in C++ are a fundamental feature enabling polymorphism and code flexibility. They enable late binding and dynamic dispatch, allowing objects of different derived classes to respond to the same method call consistently. Combining virtual functions with abstract classes enforces standardized interfaces. This makes C++ code more adaptable, maintainable, and extensible, making it a crucial skill for effective object-oriented programming in C++.