Object-Oriented Programming Chapter 13 Review

Questions and Answers

What is the difference between a class and an instance of the class?

A class describes a data type. An instance of a class is an object of the data type that exists in memory.

What is the difference between the following Person structure and Person class? struct Person { string name; int age; }; class Person { string name; int age; };

Struct members are public by default and class members are private by default.

What is the default access specification of class members?

private

What is the name of the function in the member function header void Circle::getRadius()? What class is the function a member of?

getRadius; Circle Signup and view all the answers

Are classes analogous to the blueprint or the houses, when a contractor uses a blueprint to build a set of identical houses?

A class is analogous to the blueprint. Signup and view all the answers

What is a mutator function? What is an accessor function?

An accessor is a class method used to read data members, while a mutator is a class method used to change data members. Signup and view all the answers

Is it a good idea to make member variables private? Why or why not?

Yes, it is. Signup and view all the answers

Can you think of a good reason to avoid writing statements in a class member function that use cout or cin?

The member functions are meant to retrieve and set data for a class. Signup and view all the answers

Under what circumstances should a member function be private?

When the function is necessary for internal processing, but not useful to the program outside the class. Signup and view all the answers

What is a constructor? What is a destructor?

A constructor is a member function that has the same name as the class and is called when the object is created; destructors are called when an object is destroyed. Signup and view all the answers

What is a default constructor? Is it possible to have more than one default constructor?

A default constructor is called without any arguments. It is not possible to have more than one default constructor. Signup and view all the answers

Is it possible to have more than one constructor? Is it possible to have more than one destructor?

Yes, it is possible to have more than one constructor, but not more than one destructor. Signup and view all the answers

If a class object is dynamically allocated in memory, does its constructor execute? If so, when?

Yes, the constructor executes when the object is created. Signup and view all the answers

When defining an array of class objects, how do you pass arguments to the constructor for each object in the array?

We must specify the arguments for each object individually in an initialization list. Signup and view all the answers

What are a class's responsibilities?

A class's responsibilities are the things that the class is responsible for knowing and the actions that the class is responsible for doing. Signup and view all the answers

How do you identify the classes in a problem domain description?

Identify nouns in the problem description. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Class and Instance

A class defines a data type, while an instance of a class is an object of that data type stored in memory.

Struct vs. Class

Struct members are public by default; class members are private by default.

Default Access Specification

Class members default to private access, restricting direct access from outside the class.

Member Function Naming

Example function header: void Circle::getRadius() indicates the function name is getRadius and it belongs to the Circle class.

Class Analogy

A class is comparable to a blueprint in construction, while instances are analogous to the built houses.

Accessor and Mutator Functions

Accessor functions retrieve data members; mutator functions modify data members of a class.

Private Member Variables

Keeping member variables private is advisable as it shields them from external manipulation and helps maintain data integrity.

Input/Output in Member Functions

Avoid using cout or cin in member functions; these functions should focus on data retrieval and modification instead.

Private Member Functions

Member functions should be private if they are necessary for internal operations but are not meant for external use.

Constructors and Destructors

Constructors initialize member variables and are called when an object is created. Destructors handle cleanup when an object is destroyed.

Default Constructor

A default constructor is called without arguments; only one default constructor is permitted per class.

Constructor and Destructor Limits

A class can have multiple constructors (Constructor Overloading) but can only have one destructor.

Dynamic Memory Allocation and Constructors

When a class object is dynamically allocated, the constructor executes upon object creation.

Initializing Arrays of Objects

To initialize an array of objects with constructors requiring arguments, provide individual arguments in an initialization list.

Class Responsibilities

A class's responsibilities include the knowledge it maintains and the actions it performs.

Identifying Classes

Identify nouns in a problem domain description to determine potential classes within the code structure.

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Description

This quiz focuses on key concepts from Chapter 13 of Object-Oriented Programming. It highlights the differences between classes and instances as well as between structures and classes. Prepare to test your understanding of these fundamental principles in programming.