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c++pointersforward-declaration

What is the name for a Pointer like class Bar *bar

A Simple Example:

void foo(class Bar * bar) {
    foo2(bar);
}

void foo2(Bar * bar) {
    bar->a++;
}

The Pointer used in foo2 is a standard Pointer to the class Bar. OK - The Pointer used in foo is also a pointer to the class Bar. But the class Bar must not be known at this place.

I can't find the correct naming for the argument of foo. It is a pointer to an anonymous class? What is the correct name for the class Bar *bar?

Solution

  • What you need is forward declaration.

    You can read about it in the documentation or in a different post.

    From the documentation:

    Declares a class type which will be defined later in this scope. Until the definition appears, this class name has incomplete type. This allows classes that refer to each other.