Search code examples
c++parametersabstract-class

C++ abstract class parameter error workaround

The code snippet below produces an error:

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

class A
{

public:

  virtual void print() = 0;
};

void test(A x) // ERROR: Abstract class cannot be a parameter type
{
  cout << "Hello" << endl;
}

Is there a solution/workaround for this error other/better than replacing

virtual void print() = 0;

with 

virtual void print() = { }

EDIT: I want to be able to pass any class extending/implementing the base class A as parameter by using polymorphism (i.e. A* x = new B() ; test(x); )

Cheers

Solution

  • Since you cannot instantiate an abstract class, passing one by value is almost certainly an error; you need to pass it by pointer or by reference:

    void test(A& x) ...

    or

    void test(A* x) ...

    Passing by value will result in object slicing, with is nearly guaranteed to have unexpected (in a bad way) consequences, so the compiler flags it as an error.