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Question:  
What is virtual constructors/destructors?


Answer: Virtual destructors: If an object (with a non-virtual destructor) is destroyed explicitly by applying the delete operator to a base-class pointer to the object, the base-class destructor function (matching the pointer type) is called on the object. 
 There is a simple solution to this problem – declare a virtual base-class destructor. This makes all derived-class destructors virtual even though they don’t have the same name as the base-class destructor. Now, if the object in the hierarchy is destroyed explicitly by applying the delete operator to a base-class pointer to a derived-class object, the destructor for the appropriate class is called.
 
Virtual constructor: Constructors cannot be virtual. Declaring a constructor as a virtual function is a syntax error.
 
Does c++ support multilevel and multiple inheritance?
Yes. 
 
What are the advantages of inheritance?
• It permits code reusability.
• Reusability saves time in program development.
• It encourages the reuse of proven and debugged high-quality software, thus reducing problem after a system becomes functional.
 
 
What is the difference between declaration and definition?
 The declaration tells the compiler that at some later point we plan to present the definition of this declaration. 
E.g.:  void stars () //function declaration
 
The definition contains the actual implementation.
E.g.:  void stars () // declarator
 {
  for(int j=10; j>=0; j--) //function body
   cout<<”*”;
  cout<<endl;
 } 
 


June 06, 2007 03:51:14 #2
 SomGollakota   Member Since: June 2007    Total Comments: 30 

RE: What is virtual constructors/destructor...
 

Constructors cannot be virtual. This is a given.
Distructors, on the other hand, can be virtual and help in destroying child class objects using a base class pointer. Consider the following example.

class A {
public:
B();
~B();
}
class B : public A {
B();
~B();
}

When you create an instance (object) of class B, the way the object is created is, first Object A is created and then Object B (thus concluding the object of B - Object B contains both the parent and child objects). The destruction of the object B is in reverse order (first object B is destroyed, and then object A).
If, on the other hand, you were to have a pointer to object A and assign it a dynamic object B, when you destroy it, only object A's destructor is called and object B part of the object is never destroyed. Virtual destructors are used to solve this problem and destroy the objects in the right order.

     

 

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