Polymorphism

CS 200
Learning Objectives
• Understand the aspects of polymorphism in C++
• Appreciate the need for run time polymorphism
• Practice writing polymorphic code

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Definition
• Programming: Code exhibiting different behavior
based on context
• What would the method draw() on a Cowboy object do?
• What would the method draw() on a Graphics object do?
• We’ve seen some of it:
• Function overloading
• We’ll see some more of it

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 Types
Polymorphism

Compile-time Run-time

Function
overloading
Operator
overloading
Is function overloading run-time or
Templates
compile-time?

4
5
Run-time Polymorphism
• Run-time polymorphism in C++ requires the
following:
• Inheritance
• Function overriding (a virtual function)
• A pointer or reference variable
• Upcasting

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Example
• You are working on your e-commerce product

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Example
Electronics
# warranty: int
Product + Electronics(string,
# name: string int, float, int)
# id: int + getPrice(): float
+ Product(string,
# basePrice: float
int, float)
+ getName(): string
+ getID(): int
+ getPrice(): float Food
+
applyDiscount(float) # expiry: Date
: void + Food(string, int,
float, Date)
+ isSafe(): bool
Let’s code!
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Summary
• A derived class may redefine an inherited
member function
• At run time:
• May store a derived class object’s pointer in a
pointer to the base class
• However, the base class function will be called
• To get the derived class function called
through base class pointer
• Declare the function as virtual in the base class
Don’t forget to define a virtual destructor
• Add the override keyword to class
in the base the implementation in the
derived class
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Practice Problems
• Employee, HourlyWage, Salaried, Sales
• pay() virtual method
• PakWheels: Vehicle, Car, Motorbike
• display() virtual method
• Geometry: Shape, Rectangle, Triangle, Square
• area() virtual method

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Virtual Functions Under The
Hood
class Base {
// Other code
public: Function
virtual void func(); Symbol pointer
// other code func() &Base::func()
};

class Derived : public Base {

// Other code Function
public: Symbol
pointer
&Derived::fun
void func() override; func()
c()
// other code
};

The compiler creates

also creates
a virtual
a (vtable)
table (vtable)
for any class
for any
that
class
overrides
that has
oneone
or
ormore
morevirtual
virtualfunctions
functions 11
Virtual Functions Under The
Hood
Function Function
Symbol Symbol
pointer pointer
&Derived::fun
func() &Base::func() func()
c()

- vptr - vptr - vptr - vptr

- // Other - // Other - // Other - // Other
attributes attributes attributes attributes
Base *b1 = new Base *b2 = new Base *d1 = new Base *d2 = new
Base; Base; Derived; Derived;

TheAny virtualadds
compiler method call looks
a pointer to a up the function
vtable (vptr) toaddress from the
every object of vtable
any such
This pointer points to the respective class’ vtable
through the vptr
classes. 12
Summary
• One vtable for any class that has one or more
virtual functions
• One vptr for every object of such classes
• Points to the vtable for the respective class
• At run-time:
• Virtual method call through a lookup in the vtable
using the vptr

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 Master Chief’s Arsenal
Weapon

# name: string

+ shoot(): void

Every weapon has a unique “shoot”

functionality
There’s no generic “shoot” functionality

AssaultRifle GravityHammer PlasmaGrenade

# clipCapacity: int

+ shoot(): void + shoot(): void + shoot(): void

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Possible Solutions
• Use methods with different names
• No polymorphism
• Multiple method names are hard to remember
• Implement a dummy shoot() method in the base
class
• Not a clean approach
• Later, someone might add code there causing bugs
• If semantically, it doesn’t make sense, there
shouldn’t be any code there
• Pure virtual function

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Pure Virtual Functions
• Functions that:
• Are declared as virtual
• Have no implementation
• “= 0” at the end of the function signature
• Corresponding class can’t be instantiated
• Incomplete implementation
• Known as an abstract class
• The opposite is known as a concrete class
• A derived class or may not provide an
implementation
• Can’t instantiate unless it implements all inherited
pure virtual functions
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Purpose Of An Abstract Class
• What good is an abstract class?
• Creates an “interface” – a contract with a
programmer
• There are usually multiple ways to do the same thing
• Any class can implement a set of pure virtual
functions differently
• Concrete shared members only defined in the
base class

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Example
Logger

ConsoleLogger FileLogger DBLogger

TextFileLogger CSVFileLogger

Which class(es) should be

abstract? 18
Other Examples
• GUI Frameworks:
• Drawable interface: methods like draw(), resize()
• Payment systems:
• PaymentProcessor interface: methods like authorize(),
refund()
• Database Management System library:
• Connection interface: methods like connect(),
query(), disconnect()
• Multimedia libraries:
• Playable interface: methods like play(), pause(),
stop()
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Summary
• Runtime polymorphism is implemented with virtual
functions
• Virtual functions work through vtables and vptrs
• A pure virtual function (PVF) is one that has
no implementation
• A class with one or more PVFs is an abstract
class
• An abstract class may not be instantiated

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