What is the role of friend function in C++? Justify your answer with an example.
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for an explanation of the concept of friend functions in C++ and requires an example to justify the explanation.
Answer
Friend functions allow non-member functions to access private members of a class.
The role of a friend function in C++ is to allow a non-member function access to the private and protected members of a class. This is useful in scenarios where functions need to operate on independent classes having interrelated members.
Answer for screen readers
The role of a friend function in C++ is to allow a non-member function access to the private and protected members of a class. This is useful in scenarios where functions need to operate on independent classes having interrelated members.
More Information
Friend functions are useful for certain operations like overloading operators that take multiple objects of different classes as arguments. They help in keeping the code modular and maintainable.
Tips
Be careful to not misuse friend functions, as they can break encapsulation if used excessively or improperly.
Sources
- Friend Class and Function in C++ - GeeksforGeeks - geeksforgeeks.org
- Friend Function in C++: Syntax, Examples, Uses and Types - herovired.com
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