What are the differences between struct and class

Question

This question was already asked in the context of C#/.Net.

Now I'd like to learn the differences between a struct and a class in C++. Please discuss the technical differences as well as reasons for choosing one or the other in OO design.

I'll start with an obvious difference:

• If you don't specify public: or private:, members of a struct are public by default; members of a class are private by default.

I'm sure there are other differences to be found in the obscure corners of the C++ specification.

Answer 1

I found an other difference. if you do not define a constructor in a class, the compiler will define one. but in a struct if you do not define a constructor, the compiler do not define a constructor too. so in some cases that we really do not need a constructor, struct is a better choice (performance tip). and sorry for my bad English.

Answer 2

Out of all these factors,it can be concluded that concept Class is highly suitable to represent real world objects rather than "Structures".Largely because OOP concepts used in class are highly practical in explaining real world scenarios therefore easier to merge them to reality.For an example,default inheritance is public for structs but if we apply this rule for real world,it's ridiculous.But in a class default inheritance is private which is more realistic.

Anyways,what i need to justify is Class is a much broader,real world applicable concept whereas Structure is a primitive Concept with poor internal organization(Eventhough struct follows OOP concepts,they have a poor meaning)

Answer 3

1) Members of a class are private by default and members of struct are public by default.

For example program 1 fails in compilation and program 2 works fine.

// Program 1
#include <stdio.h>

class Test {
    int x; // x is private
};
int main()
{
  Test t;
  t.x = 20; // compiler error because x is private
  getchar();
  return 0;
}
Run on IDE
// Program 2
#include <stdio.h>

struct Test {
    int x; // x is public
};
int main()
{
  Test t;
  t.x = 20; // works fine because x is public
  getchar();
  return 0;
}

2) When deriving a struct from a class/struct, default access-specifier for a base class/struct is public. And when deriving a class, default access specifier is private.

For example program 3 fails in compilation and program 4 works fine.

// Program 3
#include <stdio.h>

class Base {
public:
    int x;
};

class Derived : Base { }; // is equilalent to class Derived : private Base {}

int main()
{
  Derived d;
  d.x = 20; // compiler error becuase inheritance is private
  getchar();
  return 0;
}
Run on IDE
// Program 4
#include <stdio.h>

class Base {
public:
    int x;
};

struct Derived : Base { }; // is equilalent to struct Derived : public Base {}

int main()
{
  Derived d;
  d.x = 20; // works fine becuase inheritance is public
  getchar();
  return 0;
}

Answer 4

Not in the specification, no. The main difference is in programmer expectations when they read your code in 2 years. structs are often assumed to be POD. Structs are also used in template metaprogramming when you're defining a type for purposes other than defining objects.

Answer 5

Class is only meaningful in the context of software engineering. In the context of data structures and algorithms, class and struct are not that different. There's no any rule restricted that class's member must be referenced.

When developing large project with tons of people without class, you may finally get complicated coupled code because everybody use whatever functions and data they want. class provides permission controls and inherents to enhance decoupling and reusing codes.

If you read some software engineering principles, you'll find most standards can not be implemented easily without class. for example: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SOLID_%28object-oriented_design%29

BTW, When a struct allocates a crunch of memory and includes several variables, value type variables indicates that values are embbeded in where struct is allocated. In contrast, reference type variable's values are external and reference by a pointer which is also embedded in where struct is allocated.

Answer 6

Quoting The C++ FAQ,

[7.8] What's the difference between the keywords struct and class?

The members and base classes of a struct are public by default, while in class, they default to private. Note: you should make your base classes explicitly public, private, or protected, rather than relying on the defaults.

Struct and class are otherwise functionally equivalent.

OK, enough of that squeaky clean techno talk. Emotionally, most developers make a strong distinction between a class and a struct. A struct simply feels like an open pile of bits with very little in the way of encapsulation or functionality. A class feels like a living and responsible member of society with intelligent services, a strong encapsulation barrier, and a well defined interface. Since that's the connotation most people already have, you should probably use the struct keyword if you have a class that has very few methods and has public data (such things do exist in well designed systems!), but otherwise you should probably use the class keyword.