instanceof in C++?

[Michael]

Hi All,

Is there a function similar to Java's instanceof in C++?
To ask the question a different way, if I have a base class and two derived
classes, how can I tell which one of the derived classes a particular object
belongs to?

BaseClass* base;

if(some_test){
base = new Class1;
} else {
base = new Class2;
}

How can I tell if I created a Class1 or Class2 object from the object?

Thanks for your help

Michael

[m_schellens]

On Mar 16, 10:19 am, "Michael" <[e-mail]:

Hi All,

Is there a function similar to Java's instanceof in C++?
To ask the question a different way, if I have a base class and two derived
classes, how can I tell which one of the derived classes a particular object
belongs to?

BaseClass* base;

if(some_test){
base = new Class1;} else {

base = new Class2;

}

How can I tell if I created a Class1 or Class2 object from the object?

Thanks for your help

Michael

dynamic_cast is your friend.

Cheers
Marc

[Stefan Naewe]

On 3/16/2007 10:19 AM, Michael wrote:

Hi All,

Is there a function similar to Java's instanceof in C++?
To ask the question a different way, if I have a base class and two derived
classes, how can I tell which one of the derived classes a particular object
belongs to?

BaseClass* base;

if(some_test){
base = new Class1;
} else {
base = new Class2;
}

How can I tell if I created a Class1 or Class2 object from the object?

Use dynamic_cast< :

if(Class1* c1 = dynamic_cast<Class1*>(base))
// it's a Class1*
else if (Class2* c2 = dynamic_cast<Class2*>(base))
// it's a Class2*
But: Frequent use of dynamic_cast<is a smell of bad design!
S.
--
Stefan Naewe
stefan_DOT_naewe_AT_atlas_DOT_de
X-Replace-Address: yes

[Mike Wahler]

"Michael" <mi*********@yahoo.comwrote in message
news:45***********************@per-qv1-newsreader-01.iinet.net.au...

Hi All,

Is there a function similar to Java's instanceof in C++?
To ask the question a different way, if I have a base class and two
derived classes, how can I tell which one of the derived classes a
particular object belongs to?

BaseClass* base;

if(some_test){
base = new Class1;
} else {
base = new Class2;
}

How can I tell if I created a Class1 or Class2 object from the object?

You could use 'dynamic_cast', but the whole point of derivation
(with a reasonable design), is that you should not *need* to know
which derived type it is. From an interface standpoint, both
your instances are type 'base' (Isn't that why you used type 'base*'
with 'new'?). If there were a situation where the derived type is
significant,
I'd think you'd write:

Class1 *c = new Class1;

-Mike