Programmer-Defined Types -- Examples

• Programmer Defined Types -- Example with structs
  • Example:  complex.h, complex.cpp, complex_app.cpp
• Programmer Defined Types -- Example with classes
  • Example:  complex_op.h, complex_op.cpp, complex_op_app.cpp
• Comparison of structs and classes
  • In C++, there is very little actual difference between the struct and the class.  The only material difference is that a struct has by default a public protection scheme.  The class has a private protection scheme by default.  However, in practice, C++ programmers tend to use structs as if they only had the capabilities which the C language provides.

   

• Comparison of C and C++ structured type features

        C                                                        C++

• The struct name is not a type name        Struct names are also type names
• Components restricted to variables        Components of the class include both variable and member functions
• No protection scheme (public access)    Three-level protection scheme:  public, protected and private
• No inheritance or polymorphism            Provides both inheritance and polymorphism