C++ Classes & Object Oriented Programming

Object Oriented Programming

Programmer thinks about and defines the attributes and behavior of objects.

Often the objects are modeled after realworld entities. Very different approach than function-based programming (like C).

Object Oriented Programming

Object-oriented programming (OOP)
Encapsulates data (attributes) and functions (behavior) into packages called classes.

So, Classes are user-defined (programmerdefined) types.

Data (data members) Functions (member functions or methods)

In other words, they are structures + functions

Classes in C++
A class definition begins with the keyword class. The body of the class is contained within a set of braces, { } ; (notice the semi-colon).
class class_name { . . . }; Any valid identifier Class body (data member + methods)

Classes in C++
Within the body, the keywords private: and public: specify the access level of the members of the class.
the default is private.

Usually, the data members of a class are declared in the private: section of the class and the member functions are in public: section.

Classes in C++
class class_name { private: public: };

private members or methods

Public members or methods

Classes in C++
Member access specifiers public: private:
can be accessed outside the class directly. The public stuff is the interface.

Accessible only to member functions of class Private members and methods are for internal use only.

Class Example
This class example shows how we can encapsulate (gather) a circle information into one package (unit or class)
class Circle { private: double radius; public: void setRadius(double r); double getDiameter(); double getArea(); double getCircumference(); };
No need for others classes to access and retrieve its value directly. The class methods are responsible for that only.

They are accessible from outside the class, and they can access the member (radius)

Creating an object of a Class

Declaring a variable of a class type creates an object. You can have many variables of the same type (class).
Instantiation

Once an object of a certain class is instantiated, a new memory location is created for it to store its data members and code You can instantiate many objects from a class type. Ex) Circle c; Circle *c;

Special Member Functions

Constructor:
Public function member called when a new object is created (instantiated). Initialize data members. Same name as class No return type Several constructors
Function overloading

Special Member Functions

class Circle { private: double radius; public: Circle(); Circle(int r); void setRadius(double r); double getDiameter(); double getArea(); double getCircumference(); }; Constructor with no argument Constructor with one argument

Implementing class methods

Class implementation: writing the code of class methods. There are two ways:
1. Member functions defined outside class
Using Binary scope resolution operator (::) Ties member name to class name Uniquely identify functions of particular class Different classes can have member functions with same name

Format for defining member functions

ReturnType ClassName::MemberFunctionName( ){ }

Implementing class methods

2. Member functions defined inside class
Do not need scope resolution operator, class name;
class Circle { private: double radius; public: Circle() { radius = 0.0;} Circle(int r); void setRadius(double r){radius = r;} double getDiameter(){ return radius *2;} double getArea(); double getCircumference(); }; Defined inside class

class Circle { private: double radius; public: Circle() { radius = 0.0;} Circle(int r); void setRadius(double r){radius = r;} double getDiameter(){ return radius *2;} double getArea(); double getCircumference(); }; Circle::Circle(int r) { radius = r; } double Circle::getArea() { return radius * radius * (22.0/7); } double Circle:: getCircumference() { return 2 * radius * (22.0/7); }

Defined outside class

Accessing Class Members

Operators to access class members
Identical to those for structs Dot member selection operator (.)
Object Reference to object

Arrow member selection operator (->)

Pointers

class Circle { private: double radius; public: The first The second Circle() { radius = 0.0;} constructor is constructor is Circle(int r); called called void setRadius(double r){radius = r;} double getDiameter(){ return radius *2;} double getArea(); Since radius is a void main() double getCircumference(); { private class data }; Circle c1,c2(7); member Circle::Circle(int r) { cout<<The area of c1: <<c1.getArea()<<\n; radius = r; } //c1.raduis = 5;//syntax error double Circle::getArea() c1.setRadius(5); { return radius * radius * (22.0/7); cout<<The circumference of c1: } << c1.getCircumference()<<\n; double Circle:: getCircumference() { cout<<The Diameter of c2: <<c2.getDiameter()<<\n; return 2 * radius * (22.0/7); } }

class Circle { private: double radius; public: Circle() { radius = 0.0;} Circle(int r); void setRadius(double r){radius = r;} double getDiameter(){ return radius *2;} double getArea(); double getCircumference(); }; void main() Circle::Circle(int r) { { Circle c(7); radius = r; Circle *cp1 = &c; } Circle *cp2 = new Circle(7); double Circle::getArea() cout<<The are of cp2: { <<cp2->getArea(); return radius * radius * (22.0/7); } double Circle:: getCircumference() } { return 2 * radius * (22.0/7); }

Destructors
Destructors
Special member function Same name as class
Preceded with tilde (~)

No arguments No return value Cannot be overloaded Before system reclaims objects memory
Reuse memory for new objects Mainly used to de-allocate dynamic memory locations

Another class Example

This class shows how to handle time parts.
class Time { private: int *hour,*minute,*second; public: Time(); Time(int h,int m,int s); void printTime(); void setTime(int h,int m,int s); int getHour(){return *hour;} int getMinute(){return *minute;} int getSecond(){return *second;} void setHour(int h){*hour = h;} void setMinute(int m){*minute = m;} void setSecond(int s){*second = s;} ~Time(); };

Destructor

Time::Time() { hour = new int; minute = new int; second = new int; *hour = *minute = *second = 0; }
Dynamic locations should be allocated to pointers first

Time::Time(int h,int m,int s) { hour = new int; minute = new int; second = new int; *hour = h; *minute = m; *second = s; }

void Time::setTime(int h,int m,int s) { *hour = h; *minute = m; *second = s; }

void Time::printTime() { cout<<"The time is : ("<<*hour<<":"<<*minute<<":"<<*second<<")" <<endl; } Time::~Time() { delete hour; delete minute;delete second; } void main() { Time *t; t= new Time(3,55,54); t->printTime(); t->setHour(7); t->setMinute(17); t->setSecond(43); t->printTime(); delete t; }

Destructor: used here to deallocate memory locations

Output: The time is : (3:55:54) The time is : (7:17:43) Press any key to continue

When executed, the destructor is called

Reasons for OOP

1. Simplify programming 2. Interfaces Information hiding:
Implementation details hidden within classes themselves

3. Software reuse
Class objects included as members of other classes