C++ Inherited Virtual Method Still Uses Base Class Implementation

Question

I have a base class called Packet:

// Header File
class Packet {
public:
    virtual bool isAwesome() const {
        return false;
    }
}

and an inherited class called AwesomePacket:

// Header File
class AwesomePacket : public Packet {
public:
    virtual bool isAwesome() const {
        return true;
    }
}

However, when I instantiate an AwesomePacket and call isAwesome(), the method returns false instead of true. Why is this the case?

Answer 1

By any chance is your code calling isAwesome in the Packet constructor:

Packet::Packet()
{
    // this will always call Packet::isAwesome
    if (isAwesome())
    {
    } 
}

Even if this Packet constructor is being used to construct the parent object of an AwesomePacket object, this will not call AwesomePacket::isAwesome. This is because at this point in time the object is not yet an AwesomePacket.