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Friend Function

A friend function in C++ can access the private and protected members of a class. A friend function is declared inside a class using the friend keyword. The function can then access private data without using getter/setter functions, but must be called normally without an object.

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25 views2 pages

Friend Function

A friend function in C++ can access the private and protected members of a class. A friend function is declared inside a class using the friend keyword. The function can then access private data without using getter/setter functions, but must be called normally without an object.

Uploaded by

THANU SREE
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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C++ Friend function

 If a function is defined as a friend function in C+


+, then the protected and private data of a class
can be accessed using the function.
 By using the keyword friend compiler knows the
given function is a friend function.
 For accessing the data, the declaration of a
friend function should be done inside the body
of a class starting with the keyword friend.
Syntax of friend function in C++

1.class class_name    
2.{    
3.    friend return_type function_name(argument/s);     
       // syntax of friend function.  
4.};    
In the above declaration, the friend function is
preceded by the keyword friend. The function can be
defined anywhere in the program like a normal C++
function. The function definition does not use either
the keyword friend or scope resolution operator.
Characteristics of a Friend function:
o The function is not in the scope of the class to
which it has been declared as a friend.
o It cannot be called using the object as it is not in
the scope of that class.
o It can be invoked like a normal function without
using the object.
o It cannot access the member names directly and
has to use an object name and dot membership
operator with the member name.
o It can be declared either in the private or the
public part.

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