Templates are all about the compiler generating code at compile-time. Virtual functions are all about the run-time system figuring out which function to call at run-time. Once the run-time system figured out it would need to call a templatized virtual function, compilation is all done and the compiler cannot generate the appropriate instance anymore. Therefore … Read more
In C++ you have to explicitly name the base class in calling the derived class method. This can be done from any method from the derived class. The override is a special case of the method of the same name. In Java there is no multi inheritance, so you can use super which will uniquely … Read more
When an object written in C# is constructed, what happens is that the initializers run in order from the most derived class to the base class, and then constructors run in order from the base class to the most derived class (see Eric Lippert’s blog for details as to why this is). Also in .NET … Read more
Here is how I understood not just what virtual functions are, but why they’re required: Let’s say you have these two classes: class Animal { public: void eat() { std::cout << “I’m eating generic food.”; } }; class Cat : public Animal { public: void eat() { std::cout << “I’m eating a rat.”; } }; … Read more
An abstract function cannot have functionality. You’re basically saying, any child class MUST give their own version of this method, however it’s too general to even try to implement in the parent class. A virtual function, is basically saying look, here’s the functionality that may or may not be good enough for the child class. … Read more