virtual bool OnInit()? Topic is solved

[satchmo]

Hi there,
I know this is a pretty basic C++ question, but I've just started learning to use wxWidgets and am a little confused about the inheritance aspect of the OnInit function in most examples.

I understand that OnInit is a wxApp function and a virtual one, which needs to be overridden in order to start an application. It's my understanding that when a function is to be overridden it is declared in the base class as virtual, but when actually being overridden is declared as normal (ie without the virtual). However in all the wxWidgets examples I see, when the class that inherits from wxApp is being declared, they still declare OnInit as virtual, although then the implementation of that class is as normal. Eg:

Code: Select all

class MyApp : public wxApp{
    public:
        virtual bool OnInit();  //why not just "bool OnInit();"?
};

bool MyApp::OnInit(){
    //stuff
}

It compiles and runs fine with or without the virtual, so I'm a little confused as to what the difference is?

Thanks,
satch

[Cursor]

This is the normal C++ definition.
When a base-class function is declared as virtual, all overriden implementation are virtual. With or without the virtual keyword.

If you want a function with the same prototype but not virtual, you must change its name.

[chris]

Hi satchmo,

on a further note: Virtual methods that need to be overwritten are called "pure" virtual methods in C++, and are declared by

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virtual void foo()=0;

(note the =0).
Classes with pure virtual methods are abstract and can not be instantiated. Any class that derives from a class with pure virtuals must implement these method to be instantiable.

HTH, Chris

edit: The reason why some people add the virtual keyword in derived classes even if it's redundant is readability. If you as the programmer read the declaration you know you are dealing with a potentially overwritten/overwritable method.

[Ryan Norton]

If you want a function with the same prototype but not virtual, you must change its name.

You can also only change the parameters, but then that results in the phenomena known as function hiding, which is usually not a good thing...

[satchmo]

This is the normal C++ definition.
When a base-class function is declared as virtual, all overriden implementation are virtual. With or without the virtual keyword.

So you mean that even if the virtual keyword is left out, it's still virtual? That even without the keyword, any class that inherits from MyApp will still have a virtual function bool OnInit() too?

[chris]

Yes, that's correct.

[satchmo]

Okay, thanks guys.