Run-time Polymorphism

Learn how to write flexible and extensible C++ code using polymorphism, virtual functions, and dynamic casting

Ryan McCombe
Updated
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Questions & Answers

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Why should I use a virtual destructor in C++?
I noticed in the lesson that a virtual destructor was used in a base class. Why is this necessary?
What is the performance impact of using virtual functions in C++?
The lesson mentions that using virtual functions has performance implications. Can you explain what those are?
What are pure virtual functions in C++?
I came across the term "pure virtual function" while learning about polymorphism. What does it mean and how is it used?
Can virtual functions have default implementations in C++?
Is it possible to provide a default implementation for a virtual function in a base class?
What is the performance impact of using dynamic_cast in C++?
The lesson mentions using dynamic_cast for downcasting. Is there any significant performance overhead associated with dynamic_cast?
How do virtual functions work with multiple inheritance in C++?
If a class inherits from multiple base classes that have virtual functions, how are the virtual function calls resolved?