C++ Concepts Gurnoor Singh
14-Mark Master Blueprint: OOP Concepts
in C++
Inheritance, Polymorphism, Virtual Functions, Operator Overloading
1. What is Inheritance? Explain its advantages with
example.
Definition
Inheritance is the mechanism by which a class (derived) acquires properties of another
class (base). It supports the concept of hierarchical classification and promotes reusability.
Advantages
• Code Reusability – Eliminates redundancy by reusing existing code.
• Extensibility – Allows extending the functionality of existing code.
• Maintainability – Central changes reflect across all derived classes.
• Logical Hierarchy – Represents real-world relationships like IS-A.
• Modularity – Simplifies code management by separating concerns.
• Scalability – New features can be added easily.
• Improved Productivity – Developers spend less time rewriting logic.
Syntax
class Base {
// members
};
class Derived : public Base {
// additional members
};
Example
class Animal {
public :
void eat () { cout << " Eating \ n " ; }
};
class Dog : public Animal {
public :
void bark () { cout << " Barking \ n " ; }
};
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C++ Concepts Gurnoor Singh
2. Explain types of Inheritance with examples and
diagrams.
Types
1. Single Inheritance
• One class derives from one base class.
• Easy to manage and understand.
class A {};
class B : public A {};
2. Multilevel Inheritance
• One derived class acts as base for another.
• Shows transitive nature of inheritance.
class A {};
class B : public A {};
class C : public B {};
3. Multiple Inheritance
• One class inherits from multiple base classes.
• Can lead to ambiguity if not handled carefully.
class A {}; class B {};
class C : public A , public B {};
4. Hierarchical Inheritance
• Multiple classes derive from the same base.
• Common features remain in base class.
class A {};
class B : public A {}; class C : public A {};
5. Hybrid Inheritance
• Combines more than one type of inheritance.
• May cause diamond problem.
3. What is Ambiguity in Inheritance? Explain with
example and solutions.
Definition
Ambiguity in inheritance arises when multiple paths exist to reach a base class, leading
to confusion in compiler regarding which function or property to use.
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C++ Concepts Gurnoor Singh
Example: Diamond Problem
class A { public : void display () { cout << " A " ; } };
class B : public A {};
class C : public A {};
class D : public B , public C {};
Solutions
• Scope Resolution: Specify the class explicitly:
D obj ;
obj . B :: display () ;
• Virtual Base Class: Eliminate ambiguity using virtual inheritance:
class B : virtual public A {};
class C : virtual public A {};
class D : public B , public C {};
4. What is Polymorphism? Explain compile-time
and run-time polymorphism.
Definition
Polymorphism allows the same interface to represent different underlying data types or
function implementations.
Types of Polymorphism
1. Compile-time Polymorphism (Static)
• Achieved via function and operator overloading.
• Resolved during compilation.
void print ( int x ) {}
void print ( double y ) {}
2. Run-time Polymorphism (Dynamic)
• Achieved using virtual functions.
• Function call resolved during runtime.
class Base {
public :
virtual void show () { cout << " Base " ; }
};
class Derived : public Base {
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C++ Concepts Gurnoor Singh
public :
void show () { cout << " Derived " ; }
};
5. What are Virtual Functions? How do they sup-
port run-time polymorphism?
Definition
A virtual function is a member function in a base class that you expect to be overridden
in derived classes.
Key Points
• Declared using the virtual keyword.
• Enables dynamic dispatch.
• Supports polymorphic behavior using base class pointers.
• Uses vtable mechanism internally.
Example
class Base {
public :
virtual void display () { cout << " Base ␣ class " ; }
};
class Derived : public Base {
public :
void display () override { cout << " Derived ␣ class " ; }
};
Base * ptr = new Derived () ;
ptr - > display () ; // Output : Derived class
6. What is a Pure Virtual Function? Explain with
an example.
Definition
A pure virtual function is a virtual function with no definition in the base class. Used to
create abstract classes.
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C++ Concepts Gurnoor Singh
Usage
• Declared using = 0.
• Forces derived classes to implement the function.
• Abstract class cannot be instantiated.
Example
class Shape {
public :
virtual void draw () = 0; // Pure virtual
};
class Circle : public Shape {
public :
void draw () { cout << " Drawing ␣ Circle " ; }
};
7. What is Operator Overloading? Explain with a
’+’ operator example.
Definition
Operator overloading allows giving special meaning to operators when used with user-
defined types.
Types
• Unary Operators (++, –)
• Binary Operators (+, -, *, /)
Syntax
return_type operator op ( parameters ) ;
Example: ’+’ Operator
class Complex {
int real , imag ;
public :
Complex ( int r = 0 , int i = 0) : real ( r ) , imag ( i ) {}
Complex operator +( Complex c ) {
return Complex ( real + c . real , imag + c . imag ) ;
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C++ Concepts Gurnoor Singh
void display () {
cout << real << " ␣ + ␣ " << imag << " i " ;
}
};
Exam Tips
• Always begin with definitions.
• Use neat indentation for code.
• Underline or highlight key terms.
• Add labeled diagrams for inheritance and ambiguity.
• Write examples and outputs clearly.
• Use analogies where applicable.
