TOOL DEVELOPMENT
C# INHERITANCE & INTERFACES
A DIGITAL ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTATION
INHERITANCE
C# SYNTAX
c# syntax: inheritance
INHERITANCE BASICS
Struct = value type > no inheritance
Class = reference type > inheritance
• in fact, every class implicitely inherits [Link]
Batman > Hero > [Link]
Restricted in C#: you can only inherit from 1 class!
• no multiple inheritance
• (part of) solution: interfaces
we will get to that in a moment
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c# syntax: inheritance
WHAT IS INHERITED?
Fields and properties
public/protected fields & props are inherited
Methods
public/protected methods are inherited
Constructors
• not inherited!
• but can be accessed through base;
• “base” gives you access to the base Class
calls Hero’s
constructor
• in fact, base class constructor must be called
if the base class does not have a default constructor! .4
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c# syntax: inheritance
METHOD OVERRIDING
Remember ToString()?
ToString() is virtual in [Link],
therefore, we can override it
Declare as virtual in the base class:
Override in the inheriting class:
What if you don’t override it? > default behavior in base class .5
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c# syntax: inheritance
INHERITANCE: EXERCISE
Given Hero class
• Add the given Hero class to your project
• Place it in a Model folder!
• Change the namespace to yours
• Add a method called SaySomething():
• Its default behavior is to return “I am [Hero Name]’!”
• Make sure it can be overridden
Create a Batman class
• Inherit correctly from Hero
• When SaySomething() is called on this class, it should return
“Tada-dada-dada-dada BATMAAAAN!”
Test using the given test code
• Your classes should match the code, not vice versa
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INTERFACES – EXAMPLE 1
C# SYNTAX
INTERFACES
EXAMPLE 1: CLASS
Situation: we have a class called Event and a list of Event
instances:
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INTERFACES
EXAMPLE 1: LIST OF EVENTS
Situation: we have a class called Event and a list of Event
instances:
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INTERFACES
EXAMPLE 1: SORT LIST OF EVENTS
UPDATE: We want to sort our events:
So... Based on what will these events be sorted? Name? Date?
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...??
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INTERFACES
EXAMPLE 1: SORT LIST OF EVENTS
ANSWER: It will crash!
Runtime error. It does not know how to compare the items.
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The answer to the problem is literally there: IComparable
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INTERFACES
EXAMPLE 1: SOLUTION
When
implementi
ng the
interface we
are forced to
implement
the
CompareTo
function!
It allows us
to choose
how events
are ordered
(here:
scheduled .12
time)
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INTERFACES
EXAMPLE 1: RESULT
UPDATE: We want to sort our events:
Events are sorted based on their Scheduled Time
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INTERFACES
EXAMPLE 1: HOW DOES IT WORK?
1. ICompare interface
The interface has a Compare function “header”; not implemented!
Every class that implements it must implement this function!
(it is like signing a contract)
2. When sorting, the List class will call the Compare function on
the object. This is only possible if the object implements
ICompare!
Therefore, it crashes if it does not. .14
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INTERFACES
EXAMPLE 1: IMPLEMENTING MULTIPLE
INTERFACES
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c# syntax: interfaces
EXISTING INTERFACE EXAMPLE C#
int[] (implicitely)
implements
IEnumberable<int>
List<string> implements
IEnumberable<string>
IEnumberable<T> interface
• allows to loop over objects
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INTERFACES – EXAMPLE 2
CREATING A CUSTOM INTERFACE
c# syntax: interfaces
INTERFACES – WHAT
“Class” that only contains signatures of
Methods
Properties
Events
Indexers
An interface has no implementations
• (except when a method is declared static, then it must be implemented)
• (from C# 8.0 on, default implementation for data members is allowed)
Can be compared to a pure virtual class in C++ .18
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c# syntax: interfaces
INTERFACES – WHAT & WHY
C# does not allow multiple inheritance,
but you can implement multiple interfaces!
Implementing an interface is like entering a contract:
• Every member/method/.. must be implemented!
•
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c# syntax: interfaces
INTERFACES – WHAT & WHY: LOG TO CONSOLE
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c# syntax: interfaces
INTERFACES – WHAT & WHY: LOG TO FILE
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c# syntax: interfaces
INTERFACES – WHAT & WHY (USAGE)
Creating / using an object that implements the Interface
Can be an instance of any cla
that implements ICanLog!
We can safely call this method
it will use the implementation
the specific object!
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c# syntax: interfaces
EXERCISE
Given is a class called BaseHero, and Batman/Robin/Superman that
inherit this
Currently you get an error on the subclasses. Why?
Give them a constructor without parameters and pass their literal name to the
basehero class.
Create the following interfaces (the methods write to the console):
ICanFly > method Fly();
ICanJump > method Jump();
ICanSwim > method Swim();
IHasXRayVision > method SeeThroughStuff();
IUseless > method Die();
In the subclasses (Batman/Robin/..), implement
interfaces of your choice (example screenshot)
Create a test class
Add Batman, Robin and Superman to a list .23
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c# syntax - there is one more...
ABSTRACT
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c# syntax: inheritance &
OVERVIEW
interfaces + ABSTRACT KEYWORD
We have a base class:
we want some default implementation,
but we want to allow inheriting classes to override this behavior,
only if they want to though!
use the virtual keyword
We have a contract:
we have no default implementations,
and we want to force the user to implement everything in the
contract
use an interface instead of a class
So what if we want to implement part of a class, but not
everything?? .25
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abstract
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c# syntax: inheritance &
ABSTRACT
interfaces & VIRTUAL KEYWORDS
Once abstract is used in class, the class itself becomes
abstract!
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c# syntax: inheritance &
ABSTRACT
interfaces & VIRTUAL KEYWORDS
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