How Can I Call Parent Class Functions from Derived Class Functions in C ?

Calling Parent Class Functions from Derived Class Functions in C

In C , inheritance allows the creation of derived classes that inherit the properties and methods of their parent classes. This can be useful when extending or specializing the functionality of an existing class. One common scenario is the need to call a parent class function from a function within the derived class.

To achieve this, you can simply reference the parent class function directly within the derived class function. If the function is defined in the base class and has the same signature, it is automatically available in the derived class.

However, if a function with the same signature exists in both the parent and derived classes, it is necessary to disambiguate which function to call. This can be done by prefixing the parent class name followed by two colons (::) before the function name.

For example:

class Parent {
public:
    void print() {
        // Parent class print function
    }
};

class Child : public Parent {
public:
    void print() {
        // Derived class print function
        Parent::print(); // Call the parent class print function
    }
};

In this example, the Child class overrides the print function from the Parent class. However, within the derived class's print function, it is possible to access the parent class's print function by explicitly calling Parent::print().

Another important consideration when working with inheritance and function calls is multiple inheritance. In C , it is possible for a class to inherit from multiple parent classes. In such cases, it is essential to use the appropriate parent class name when calling functions to avoid ambiguity.

Overall, calling parent class functions from derived class functions is a straightforward process in C . By leveraging inheritance and disambiguating functions when necessary, you can effectively extend the functionality of your classes while maintaining a clear and organized code structure.

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