How do you create a static class in C++?

Question

How do you create a static class in C++? I should be able to do something like:

cout << "bit 5 is " << BitParser::getBitAt(buffer, 5) << endl;

Assuming I created the BitParser class. What would the BitParser class definition look like?

Answer 1

If you're looking for a way of applying the "static" keyword to a class, like you can in C# for example

static classes are just the compiler hand-holding you and stopping you from writing any instance methods/variables.

If you just write a normal class without any instance methods/variables, it's the same thing, and this is what you'd do in C++

Answer 2

If you're looking for a way of applying the "static" keyword to a class, like you can in C# for example, then you won't be able to without using Managed C++.

But the looks of your sample, you just need to create a public static method on your BitParser object. Like so:

BitParser.h

class BitParser
{
 public:
  static bool getBitAt(int buffer, int bitIndex);

  // ...lots of great stuff

 private:
  // Disallow creating an instance of this object
  BitParser() {}
};

BitParser.cpp

bool BitParser::getBitAt(int buffer, int bitIndex)
{
  bool isBitSet = false;
  // .. determine if bit is set
  return isBitSet;
}

You can use this code to call the method in the same way as your example code.

Hope that helps! Cheers.

Answer 3

You 'can' have a static class in C++, as mentioned before, a static class is one that does not have any objects of it instantiated it. In C++, this can be obtained by declaring the constructor/destructor as private. End result is the same.

Answer 4

This is similar to C#'s way of doing it in C++

In C# file.cs you can have private var inside a public function. When in another file you can use it by calling the namespace with the function as in:

MyNamespace.Function(blah);

Here's how to imp the same in C++:

SharedModule.h

class TheDataToBeHidden
{
  public:
    static int _var1;
    static int _var2;
};

namespace SharedData
{
  void SetError(const char *Message, const char *Title);
  void DisplayError(void);
}

SharedModule.cpp

//Init the data (Link error if not done)
int TheDataToBeHidden::_var1 = 0;
int TheDataToBeHidden::_var2 = 0;


//Implement the namespace
namespace SharedData
{
  void SetError(const char *Message, const char *Title)
  {
    //blah using TheDataToBeHidden::_var1, etc
  }

  void DisplayError(void)
  {
    //blah
  }
}

---

OtherFile.h

#include "SharedModule.h"

OtherFile.cpp

//Call the functions using the hidden variables
SharedData::SetError("Hello", "World");
SharedData::DisplayError();

Answer 5

Can I write something like static class?

No, according to the C++11 N3337 standard draft Annex C 7.1.1:

Change: In C ++, the static or extern specifiers can only be applied to names of objects or functions. Using these specifiers with type declarations is illegal in C ++. In C, these specifiers are ignored when used on type declarations. Example:

static struct S {    // valid C, invalid in C++
  int i;
};

Rationale: Storage class specifiers don’t have any meaning when associated with a type. In C ++, class members can be declared with the static storage class specifier. Allowing storage class specifiers on type declarations could render the code confusing for users.

And like struct, class is also a type declaration.

The same can be deduced by walking the syntax tree in Annex A.

It is interesting to note that static struct was legal in C, but had no effect: Why and when to use static structures in C programming?

Answer 6

Unlike other managed programming language, "static class" has NO meaning in C++. You can make use of static member function.