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Chapter 13: Problem 54

T \(\mathrm{F}\) Classes and structures in \(\mathrm{C}++\) are very similar.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: The main similarities between classes and structures in C++ include having data members, member functions, access specifiers, constructors, destructors, inheritance, and polymorphism features. The primary difference is that, by default, class members are private, while structure members are public. Classes are more common in object-oriented programming, while structures are used for simpler groups of related data.

Step by step solution

01

Understand Classes and Structures

Classes and structures in C++ are user-defined data types that allow bundling of related data and functions together. They are very similar in nature, with only a few differences in terms of default access specifiers for their members.
02

Define a Class

In C++, a class is defined using the "class" keyword followed by the name of the class, and its definition is enclosed in curly braces. Members of a class can have private, protected, or public access specifiers. By default, members of a class are private. Here's an example of a simple class definition: ```cpp class MyClass { int x; // private by default public: int y; void display(); }; ```
03

Define a Structure

In C++, a structure is defined using the "struct" keyword followed by the name of the structure, and its definition is enclosed in curly braces. Members of a structure can also have private, protected, or public access specifiers. However, by default, members of a structure have public access. Here's an example of a simple structure definition: ```cpp struct MyStruct { int x; // public by default int y; void display(); }; ```
04

Main Similarities

Classes and structures in C++ can have: 1. Data members (variables). 2. Member functions (methods). 3. Access specifiers (public, private, and protected). 4. Constructors and destructors. 5. Inheritance (single and multiple) and polymorphism features.
05

Main Differences

The main difference between classes and structures in C++ is their default access specifiers for members: 1. In classes, data members and member functions are private by default. 2. In structures, data members and member functions are public by default. In practice, classes are more commonly used for object-oriented programming, while structures are preferred when a simple group of related data is needed. They can often be used interchangeably, but it's essential to understand their default access differences to avoid unintentional accessibility issues.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

T \(\mathrm{F}\) It is legal to define a pointer to a class object.

When defining an array of class objects, how do you pass arguments to the constructor for each object in the array?

T \(\quad F \quad\) Member functions may be overloaded.

A contractor uses a blueprint to build a set of identical houses. Are classes analogous to the blueprint or the houses?

Look at the following description of a problem domain: The bank offers the following types of accounts to its customers: savings accounts, checking accounts, and money market accounts. Customers are allowed to deposit money into an account (thereby increasing its balance), withdraw money from an account (thereby decreasing its balance), and earn interest on the account. Each account has an interest rate. Assume that you are writing an application that will calculate the amount of interest earned for a bank account. A) Identify the potential classes in this problem domain. B) Refine the list to include only the necessary class or classes for this problem. C) Identify the responsibilities of the class or classes.
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