Returning Objects
"returning objects" refers to the process of
returning instances of classes (objects) from
functions.
Instances of classes:
Aninstance of a class in programming refers to a
specific object created based on the blueprint
provided by the class.
Now in a C++ write program with a class name car
that defines attributes like color, make, and model,
an instance of this class would be a specific car with
these attributes defined.
The concept of returning object is essential for
leveraging the full power of C++'s object-oriented
features, enabling developers to write more
modular, reusable, and maintainable code.
Key Concepts for Returning Objects in C++
Returning by Value:
• When a function returns an object by value, a copy of
the object is made and returned.
Note: Returning by value may involve a copy
operation, which could be expensive for large objects.
However, modern C++ compilers typically optimize
this with Return Value Optimization (RVO) or Copy
Elision, reducing the performance cost.
Write a C++ class named MyClass that includes an
integer member variable x and a constructor that
initializes this variable with a given value. Also,
write a function named createObject that creates
an object of MyClass, initializes the member
variable x with the value 10, and returns this
object.
Requirements:
Define a class named MyClass.
The class should have:
A public integer member variable x.
A constructor that takes an integer parameter
and initializes x with this parameter's value.
Implement a function createObject that:
Creates an object of MyClass with x initialized
to 10.
Returns this object.
class MyClass {
public:
int x;
MyClass(int val) : x(val) {}
};
MyClass createObject() {
MyClass obj(10);
return obj; // Returns a copy of obj
}
Explanation:
Class Definition:
Theclass MyClass contains a public integer member
variable x.
Theconstructor MyClass(int val) initializes the member
variable x with the value passed as an argument.
Function createObject:
The function createObject creates an object obj of
type MyClass, with x initialized to 10.
Itthen returns this object. The returned object is a
copy of obj.
Tasks:
Implement the MyClass class as described.
Writethe createObject function to return an object of
MyClass with x set to 10.
Returning by Reference:
• You can return a reference to an object, allowing the
caller to manipulate the original object.
Warning: Returning a reference to a local object (an
object created inside the function) is dangerous
because the local object will be destroyed when the
function ends, leaving a dangling reference.
Create a C++ class named MyClass that includes
an integer member variable x and a constructor to
initialize this variable. Additionally, write a function
named modifyObject that takes a reference to an
object of MyClass as a parameter, modifies the
value of x by adding 10 to it, and returns a
reference to the modified object.
Requirements:
Define a class named MyClass.
The class should have:
A public integer member variable x.
A constructor that takes an integer parameter and
initializes x with this parameter's value.
Implement a function modifyObject that:
Takes a reference to an object of MyClass as an argument.
Increments the value of the object's member variable x by
10.
Returns a reference to the same object after modification.
class MyClass {
public:
int x;
MyClass(int val) : x(val) {}
};
MyClass& modifyObject(MyClass& obj) {
obj.x += 10;
return obj; // Returns a reference to the original
object
}
Explanation:
Class Definition:
The class MyClass contains a public integer member
variable x.
The constructor MyClass(int val) initializes x with the
value provided during object creation.
Function modifyObject:
The function modifyObject accepts a reference to an
object of type MyClass.
It modifies the object's x member by adding 10 to it.
The function returns a reference to the modified
object, ensuring that changes persist outside the
Returning by Pointer:
• You can return a pointer to an object, giving the
caller access to the object's address.
• Warning: When returning pointers, it's crucial to
manage memory properly to avoid memory leaks.
You often need to delete the object when it's no
longer needed.
Write a C++ class named MyClass that includes an
integer member variable x and a constructor that
initializes this variable. Also, write a function named
createObjectPointer that dynamically allocates an
object of MyClass, initializes the member variable x
with the value 10, and returns a pointer to this
dynamically allocated object.
Requirements:
Define a class named MyClass.
The class should have:
A public integer member variable x.
A constructor that takes an integer parameter and
initializes x with this parameter's value.
Implement a function createObjectPointer that:
Dynamically allocates an object of MyClass with x
initialized to 10.
Returns a pointer to the dynamically allocated
object.
class MyClass {
public:
int x;
MyClass(int val) : x(val) {}
};
MyClass* createObjectPointer() {
MyClass* obj = new MyClass(10);
return obj; // Returns a pointer to the dynamically
allocated object
}
Explanation:
Class Definition:
The
class MyClass contains a public integer
member variable x.
Theconstructor MyClass(int val) initializes x with
the value provided during object creation.
Function createObjectPointer:
The function createObjectPointer dynamically allocates
an object of type MyClass using the new keyword.
It initializes the member variable x to 10.
The function returns a pointer to the dynamically
allocated object, allowing the caller to access and
manage the object.
Tasks:
Implement the MyClass class as described.
Write the createObjectPointer function to dynamically
allocate an object of MyClass with x set to 10 and
return a pointer to this object.
Writea C++ program that defines a class named
Rectangle to represent a rectangle with width and
height. Implement a function that doubles the
dimensions of a Rectangle object and returns the
modified object. The program should demonstrate
the use of this function.
