Why do we need virtual functions in C++?

Question

I'm learning C++ and I'm just getting into virtual functions.

From what I've read (in the book and online), virtual functions are functions in the base class that you can override in derived classes.

But earlier in the book, when learning about basic inheritance, I was able to override base functions in derived classes without using virtual.

So what am I missing here? I know there is more to virtual functions, and it seems to be important so I want to be clear on what it is exactly. I just can't find a straight answer online.

Answer 1

i think you are referring to the fact once a method is declared virtual you don't need to use the 'virtual' keyword in overrides.

class Base { virtual void foo(); };

class Derived : Base 
{ 
  void foo(); // this is overriding Base::foo
};

If you don't use 'virtual' in Base's foo declaration then Derived's foo would just be shadowing it.

Answer 2

When you have a function in the base class, you can Redefine or Override it in the derived class.

Redefining a method : A new implementation for the method of base class is given in the derived class. Does not facilitate Dynamic binding.

Overriding a method: Redefining a virtual method of the base class in the derived class. Virtual method facilitates Dynamic Binding.

So when you said :

But earlier in the book, when learning about basic inheritance, I was able to override base methods in derived classes without using 'virtual'.

you were not overriding it as the method in the base class was not virtual, rather you were redefining it

Answer 3

Here is complete example that illustrates why virtual method is used.

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

class Basic
{
    public:
    virtual void Test1()
    {
        cout << "Test1 from Basic." << endl;
    }
    virtual ~Basic(){};
};
class VariantA : public Basic
{
    public:
    void Test1()
    {
        cout << "Test1 from VariantA." << endl;
    }
};
class VariantB : public Basic
{
    public:
    void Test1()
    {
        cout << "Test1 from VariantB." << endl;
    }
};

int main()
{
    Basic *object;
    VariantA *vobjectA = new VariantA();
    VariantB *vobjectB = new VariantB();

    object=(Basic *) vobjectA;
    object->Test1();

    object=(Basic *) vobjectB;
    object->Test1();

    delete vobjectA;
    delete vobjectB;
    return 0;
}

Answer 4

Without "virtual" you get "early binding". Which implementation of the method is used gets decided at compile time based on the type of the pointer that you call through.

With "virtual" you get "late binding". Which implementation of the method is used gets decided at run time based on the type of the pointed-to object - what it was originally constructed as. This is not necessarily what you'd think based on the type of the pointer that points to that object.

class Base
{
  public:
            void Method1 ()  {  std::cout << "Base::Method1" << std::endl;  }
    virtual void Method2 ()  {  std::cout << "Base::Method2" << std::endl;  }
};

class Derived : public Base
{
  public:
    void Method1 ()  {  std::cout << "Derived::Method1" << std::endl;  }
    void Method2 ()  {  std::cout << "Derived::Method2" << std::endl;  }
};

Base* obj = new Derived ();
  //  Note - constructed as Derived, but pointer stored as Base*

obj->Method1 ();  //  Prints "Base::Method1"
obj->Method2 ();  //  Prints "Derived::Method2"

EDIT - see this question.

Also - this tutorial covers early and late binding in C++.

Answer 5

We need virtual methods for supporting "Run time Polymorphism". When you refer to a derived class object using a pointer or a reference to the base class, you can call a virtual function for that object and execute the derived class's version of the function.