Pointers to Member Functions

Yes, it is possible to create pointers to member functions in C++. The syntax is slightly different compared to regular function pointers. Here's an example:

1#include <iostream>
2
3class Player {
4 public:
5  bool isAlive() const { return true; }
6};
7
8int main() {
9  bool (Player::*isAlivePtr)() const {
10    &Player::isAlive};  
11
12  Player MyPlayer;
13  std::cout << std::boolalpha;
14  std::cout << (MyPlayer.*isAlivePtr)() << '\n';  
15}

1true

The key differences are:

1. The type of the member function pointer includes the class name and the scope resolution operator ::. In this case, it's bool (Player::*)() const.
2. When assigning the address of the member function, we use the & operator followed by the class name and the scope resolution operator, like &Player::isAlive.
3. To call a member function through its pointer, we need an instance of the class. We use the .* operator instead of the operator, followed by the instance and the member function pointer, like (MyPlayer.*isAlivePtr)().

It's important to note that member function pointers can only be called on instances of the class they belong to. They also have access to the class's this pointer and can modify the object's state (unless the function is marked as const).

Member function pointers are useful in situations where you need to store or pass references to specific member functions of a class, similar to how regular function pointers can be used for free functions.