Unit 04 :

Pointers and Polymorphism

in c++

Written by
 Unit Outcome 1 : Create C++
programs to perform the given
arithmetic operations using
pointers

Written by
 Learning Outcome 1 : student will be
able to use pointers.

Written by
What we will learn today

1. Concept of Pointers Key takeaways

2. Arithmetic operation on pointers Concept of Pointers

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Concept Map

Pointer
Declaration

Working Of
Pointer Pointer
Initialization

Pointer

Memory
Allocation Operation
on Pointer

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Learning Objective/ Key learning

► To use pointer and perform operations on pointers.

► Write program to perform arithmetic operation on pointers.

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Concept Explanation: Pointers

► Every variable is a memory location and every memory location has its address defined
► Address can be accessed using ampersand (&) operator which denotes an address
► C++ tasks are performed more easily with pointers
► C++ tasks, such as dynamic memory allocation, cannot be performed without them
► Pointer is a variable in C++ that holds the address of another variable.
► Pointers have data type just like variables.
► Pointers are variables which display value at the memory address.
► Like any variable or constant, you must declare a pointer before you can work with it
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Declaring and initializing pointer
► The variable which store address of integer variable it is called as an integer pointer.

► Similarly if we stores address of character variable it is called as character pointer

► Declaring Pointers
► Syntax:

data_type *pointer_name;
int *ptr; //declaration
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ptr=&a; //initialization

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C++ Pointer Operators : Reference and Dereference Operators

► Pointer operators used in C++ are :

► ‘value at’ operator
► * is the dereference operator and can be read as “value pointed by”.
► ‘address’ operator
► & is the reference operator and can be read as “address of”.

Pointer Operator

Address Operator Indirection

(&) Operator (*)

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Example By Using Pointer

#include<iostream.h>
void main()
{ ptr a
int a=10;
int *ptr; Value of ptr 1024 10
ptr=&a; 1000 1024
cout<<"\n Value of a:"<<a; //a=10 Value of a

cout<<"\n Value at ptr:"<<*ptr; //*ptr=10

cout<<"\n Address of a:"<<&a; //&a=1024
cout<<"\n Address of a:"<<ptr; //ptr=1024
cout<<"\n Address of ptr:"<<&ptr; //&ptr=1000 Address of Address of ‘a’ (&a)
} ptr

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Pointer Arithmetic

► Operation
► Increment operator (++)
► Decrement operator (–)
► Addition (+)
► Subtraction (-)

► Valid statements
► p2-p1;
► ptr1+1;
► ptr=ptr+2;

► Invalid statements
► p1+p2;
► p2 * p1;
► p2/p1;
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Pointer Arithmetic

► C++ allows pointers to perform some arithmetic operations like :

⮚ A pointer can be incremented (++) or decremented(--).

⮚ Any integer can be added to or subtracted from a pointer.

⮚ One pointer can be subtracted from another.

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Example

► int a=10, b=5;

0000 a
► Assign p1=&a and p2=&b
P1 0001 Value
► So value of p1 will become 0000 (starting address of a) 0002 is 10
► Value of p2 will become 0004 (starting address of b) 0003
0004 b
P2 0005 Value
0006 is 5
► When we perform p1 - p2 0007
► It will not calculate difference of how many bytes fall between the two addresses, but rather how
many elements are there.
► P1+P2 Its not valid as we cannot perform addition of addresses

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Example Of Arithmetic Operation On Pointer

Program code

Output

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What we will learn today

1. Pointer to Object Key takeaways

2. This Pointer Concept Of Pointer To Object

3. Pointer To Derived Class

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Concept Map

Pointer to
Object Pointee derived
class

Pointer This pointer

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Learning Objective/ Key learning

► To use pointer to object.

► To use This pointer.

► Write program using This pointer.

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Concept Explanation: Pointers To Objects

⮚ A pointer can point to an object created by class. ⮚ Syntax:

⮚ Object pointers are useful in creating objects at Class_name * variable name;

run time. Variable_name=&Object_name;

⮚ Object pointers can be used to access public ⮚ Example:

members of an object. Item obj;

Item *ptr;
⮚ We can refer to public member of object using
ptr=&obj;
two ways
obj->getdata();
⮚ dot operator ( . )
obj->putdata();
⮚ arrow operator (->) 18

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Concept Explanation: Pointers To Objects

⮚ As object pointer is an alias of object ⮚ ptr can be used to refer to member

variable, we can also use ptr->getdata();
(*object_pointer).member_function() ⮚ We can also create an array of objects
► We can also create object using pointers using pointers
and new operatora ⮚ item *ptr=new item[10];
► Example: item *ptr=new item; ⮚ This statement creates memory space for
⮚ This statement allocates enough memory an array of 10 objects.
for the data members in the object and
assign address of the memory space to 19

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This Pointer

► C++ uses a unique keyword called ‘this’ to represent an object that invokes a
member function.
► This unique pointer is automatically passed to a member function when it is invoked.
► ‘this’ is a pointer that always point to the object for which the member function was
called.
► The ‘this’ pointer can be treated like any other pointer to an object.
► For example, the function call
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A.max () will set the pointer ‘this’ to the address of the object A.
Next time suppose we call B.max(), the pointer ‘this’ will store address of object B.

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Program using This pointer:

If we try to write
x=x;
It will give garbage Value

Output :

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Pointer To Derived Classes

► Pointers can be used to the base class objects ► Example:

as well as objects of derived class. B *cptr; // pointer to B class
B b; //Base object
► Pointers to objects of base class are
D d; // Derived object
compatible with pointers to objects of a cptr=&b; //ptr points to object b
derived class.
► We can make cptr to point to the
► Single pointer variable can be made to point
object d as follows:
objects belonging to different classes.
cptr=&d; //ptr points to object d
► If B is base and D is derived class, then pointer
declared as a pointer to B can also be a pointer

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Pointers to derived class

► Example:
B *cptr; // pointer to B class
B b; //Base object
D d; // Derived object
cptr=&b; //ptr points to object b

► We can make cptr to point to the object d as follows:

► cptr=&d; //ptr points to object d
► Problem is by using cptr to access the public members of the derived class D.
► The pointer cptr can point to both b and d.
► Using cptr, we can access only those members which are inherited from B and not the members that
originally belongs to D.
► If a member of D has the same name as one of the members of B, then any reference to that member
by cptr will always access the base class member.
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Pointer to Derived class

Output :

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Advantages of pointer

► Pointers save the memory.

► Pointers reduce the length and complexity of a program.

► Pointers allow passing of arrays and strings to functions more efficiently.
► Pointers make possible to return more than one value from the function.

► Pointers increase the processing speed.

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 Unit Outcome 2 : Use function
overloading to solve the given
problem
Unit Outcome 3 : Use operator
overloading to solve the given
problem

Written by
 Learning Outcome 1 : student will be
able to use different types of
Polymorphism

Written by
What we will learn today

1. Introduction to polymorphism Key takeaways

2. Types of polymorphism Concept of polymorphism

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Concept Map

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Learning Objective/ Key learning

► To describe the working of polymorphism.

► Do you know types of polymorphism?

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Concept Explanation: Polymorphism

► Polymorphism is the ability of an object to take on many forms.

► The most common use of polymorphism in OOP occurs when a parent class reference is used to refer
to a child class object.
► Polymorphism can be static or dynamic.

Divide it two parts

POLYMORPHISM

MANY FORMS

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Example of Polymorphism

Business
man
Salesman

Family
head

Employee
Polymorphism

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Customer

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TYPES OF POLYMORPHISM

POLYMORPHISM

COMPILE TIME RUN TIME

FUNCTION OPERATOR 33
VIRTUAL FUNCTION
OVERLOADING OVERLOADING

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COMPILE TIME POLYMORPHISM
#include <iostream>
► In Compile time Polymorphism or static using namespace std;
polymorphism, the response to a function is
void show(int i) {
determined at the compile time.
cout << " Here is int " << i << endl;
► The linking of a function with an object during }
compile time is called early binding or static void show(double f) {
cout << " Here is float " << f << endl;
binding.
}
► The compile time polymorphism is achieved by int main() {
function overloading and operator overloading. show(20);
show(40.5);
return 0;
}

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RUN TIME POLYMORPHISM

class base
► Runtime polymorphism or Dynamic Method
{
Dispatch is a process in which a call to an public:
void show ()
overridden method is resolved at runtime rather { cout<< "show base class" ;}
};
than compile-time.

class derived:public base

► The run time polymorphism is achieved by
{
Function overriding. public:
void show ()
► Basically the function is resolved at run time. { cout<< "show derived class"; }
};
► It is also known as late binding.

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Difference between Compile time and Runtime Polymorphism

► Compile Time ► Runtime

► In this polymorphism, an object is bound to its ► In this polymorphism, selection of appropriate
function call at compile time. function is done at run time.

► Function to be called is unknown until ► Functions to be called are known well before.
appropriate selection is made.

► This does not require use of pointers to object. ► This requires use of pointers to object
► Function calls execution are faster ► Function calls execution are slower
► Also called as early binding, Static binding ► Also called as late binding, dynamic binding.
► It is implemented with operator overloading or ► It is implemented with virtual function.
function overloading

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 Learning Outcome 4 : Students will
be able to develop program using
function overloading

Written by
What we will learn today

1. Function Overloading Key takeaways

Concept of function Overloading

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Concept Map

class

Method(x) Method(x, y) Method(x,y , z)

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Learning Objective/ Key learning

► To use Function Overloading.

► Explain how Polymorphism is achieved using function overloading?

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Concept Explanation: FUNCTION OVERLOADING

► What is overloading?

❑ Overloading means assigning multiple meanings to a function name or an operator symbol.

❑ It allows multiple definitions of a function with the same name, but different signature.

► C++ Supports Polymorphism

❑ Function Overloading
❑ Operator Overloading
Compile time

Function Overloading Operator Overloading

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Concept Explanation: FUNCTION OVERLOADING

► In C++ two functions can share the same name as long as their parameter declarations are different.

► In this situation, the functions that share the same name are said to be overloaded, and the process
is referred to as function overloading.
► The secret to function overloading is that each function should use either :
❑ Different types of parameters such as int, float, etc.
❑ Different number of parameters such as function1 contains 2 parameters and function2 contains
4 parameters.

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Example :

► Function Overloading can be written as :

► Different types of parameters
In this type, we define two or more functions with same name and same number of parameters, but
the type of parameters is different.
► Different Numbers of parameters
In this type of function overloading, we define two functions with the same name but different
numbers of parameters of the same type.
► Example

Different Types of Parameters Different Numbers of Parameters

void addition(int num1, int num2); void area(float radius);

void addition(float num1, float num2); void area(float length, float breadth)

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FUNCTION OVERLOADING

► In this example the function’s basic execution is to perform addition of two numbers.
► The name of both the functions is same but the datatype of the parameter of both the functions are
different.
► So while compiling if the data passed to the function is of integer type then the compiler will execute
the definition of that function.

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FUNCTION OVERLOADING

► In this example the function’s basic execution is to calculate the area of different shapes.

► The name is same of both function, but the number of parameters are different.
► This helps compiler to help which function to call during the compilation process.

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PROGRAM FOR FUNCTION OVERLOADING :

Program with two sum functions one with

two integer arguments and another with
three integer arguments

Output Of Program

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Advantages of Function Overloading

► The main advantage of function overloading

► Improve the code readability and
► Allows code reusability.

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Concept Map

Operator
(+)

Addition Concatenation
(2+3) (“ABC”+”DEF”=“ABCDEF”)

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Learning Objective/ Key learning

► To use operator Overloading in program.

► State the operators which can not be overloaded.

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Concept Explanation: OPERATOR OVERLOADING

► What is Overloading?

❑ Overloading means assigning multiple meanings to a function name or an operator symbol.

❑ It allows multiple definitions of a function with the same name, but different signatures.

► C++ supports Polymorphism

❑ Function Overloading
Compile time
❑ Operator overloading

Function Overloading Operator Overloading

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Concept Explanation: OPERATOR OVERLOADING

► In C++ we can specify new meaning to an existing operator which is called as Operator overloading.

► In overloading, the operators are implemented as functions using the operator keyword.
► We can redefine or overload some of the built-in operators by giving user defined meaning to it.
► For example, we can overload an operator ‘+’ in a class for String so that we can concatenate two
strings by just using ‘+’.

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Concept Explanation: OPERATOR OVERLOADING

► Example
The input/output operators << and >> are good examples of operator overloading

Object of ostream class

cout<<“HELLO WORLD!”;

Overloaded insertion
operator
The built-in definition of the << operator is for shifting of bits.
It is also used for displaying the values of various data types.

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Concept Explanation: OPERATOR OVERLOADING

Syntax and Example :

► To define an additional task to an operator, operator function is used. The general form is .

Keyword Operator (symbol) to

be overloaded
Return type classname :: operator op (arglist)
{
Function body //task defined
}
► Where return type is the type of value returned by the specified operation and op is the operator
being overloaded. Operator op is the function name.
► Example
Time Time::operator+(Time t1)

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OPERATOR OVERLOADING

► Almost all operators in C++ can be overloaded except the given below:

1. Class member operators (.)

.
2. Scope resolution operator( :: )

3. Sizeof operator(sizeof)
sizeof() Operator ::
4. Conditional oprator( ?: )

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?:

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Concept Explanation: OVERLOADING UNARY AND BINARY OPERATOR

► Two types of operators are there

► Unary Operators:
It requires only one operand to perform operation.
++ or –
Example : i++ , i--
► Binary Operators:
It requires two operands to perform operation.
+, -, *
Example : a+b, a*b

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Concept Explanation: OPERATOR OVERLOADING Example

Program to Overload the '+'operator so that two void operator +()

strings can be concatenated. {
#include<iostream.h> cout<<"CON="<<strcat(a,b)<<endl;
#include<conio.h> }
#include<string.h> };
class string void main()
{ {
char a[20],b[20]; clrscr();
public: string s;
void getdata() s.getdata();
{ + s; Output

cout<<"Enter two strings::"; getch();

cin>>a>>b; }
}

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Concept Explanation: OPERATOR OVERLOADING Example

Program to Overload unary '-' operator so that when it is feet--;

used with object of this class it will decrement values of inch--;
inches by 1. }
#include<iostream.h> void display()
{
class distance
cout<<" feet= "<<feet;
{ cout<<"inches= "<<inch<<endl;
float feet,inch; }
public: };
void getdata() void main()
{ {
distance d;
cout<<"Enter feet and inches ::"<<endl;
d.getdata(); Output
cin>>feet>>inch; -d;
} d.display();
void operator -() }
{
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Rules of Operator Overloading:
► Only existing operators can be overloaded. New operators cannot be created.
► The overloaded operator must have at least one operand that is of user-defined type.
► We cannot change the basic meaning of an operator. That is, we cannot redefine the plus (+)
operator to subtract one value from the other.
► Overloaded operators follow the syntax rules of the original operators.
► There are some operators that cannot be overloaded.
► We cannot use friend functions to overload certain operator.
► Unary operators, overloaded by means of a member function, take no explicit arguments and return
no explicit values. But those overloaded by means of a friend return (din);
► Function take one reference argument.
► Binary operators overloaded through a member function take one explicit argument and those which
one overloaded through a friend function take two
► When using binary operators overloaded through a member function, the left-hand operand must be
an object of the relevant class.
► Binary arithmetic operators such as +, - *, and / must explicitly return a value. They must not attempt
to change their own arguments.
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What we will learn today

1 Runtime Polymorphism Key takeaways

2. Virtual functions Concept of Virtual function

3. Rules of virtual functions

4. Pure virtual function

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Concept Map

Superclass obj= new SubClass

SuperClass

Extends

Subclass

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Learning Objective/ Key learning

► What is runtime polymorphism?

► To use virtual function in program.

► What are rules for virtual function.

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Concept Explanation: RUNTIME POLYMORPHISM

► To achieve Run time polymorphism, C++ supports a mechanism known as virtual function.

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Concept Explanation: RUNTIME POLYMORPHISM

► What is Runtime Polymorphism?

► The address of function to be called is determined at the runtime rather than
compile time.
► The compiler adds code that identifies the kind of object at runtime then gives
the call with the right function definition
► It is also known as late binding or dynamic binding and overriding as well.
► Late binding can be implemented by using virtual function.
► It provides slow execution as compare to early binding.
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Concept : Virtual Function

► Virtual function belongs to runtime polymorphism in C++.

► A virtual function is a member function in the base class that you expect to redefine
in derived class.
► Virtual functions are declared with a keyword “virtual” in the base class.
► When a virtual function is declared compiler decides to execute a function based on
the type of object pointed by the base pointer and not on the type of pointer.
► Example :
virtual void draw();

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Concept virtual function

► Rules of virtual function :

► The virtual function must be members of some class.

► They cannot be static members.

► They are accessed by using object pointers.

► A virtual function can be friend of another class.

► A virtual function in a base class must be defined, even though it may not be used

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Example of Virtual Function :

Program Output

Program for virtual function

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Concept : Pure virtual function

► A pure virtual function is a function declared in a base class that has no definition.

► The compiler requires each derived class to either define the function or redeclare it as a pure
virtual function.
► Such functions are also called as ’do-nothing’ functions.
► Ex:-
class ABC
{
public:
virtual void display( )=0; 67
};

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Pure virtual Function example:

Program for Pure virtual

function

Program Output

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References

► https://msbte.org.in/
► PPT: Jaishree Sudhakar Anerao (Lecturer, Department of Computer Engineering[NBA Accredited],Vivekanand
Education Society’s Polytechnic, Mumbai)

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