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This Pointer

The this pointer in C++ refers to the address of the current object instance for which a member function is called. This pointer is implicitly defined and allows member functions to access attributes and methods of the class. It changes to point to the object instance that calls the member function. Return statements can return the object instance by dereferencing this pointer.

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39 views

This Pointer

The this pointer in C++ refers to the address of the current object instance for which a member function is called. This pointer is implicitly defined and allows member functions to access attributes and methods of the class. It changes to point to the object instance that calls the member function. Return statements can return the object instance by dereferencing this pointer.

Uploaded by

gahapa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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this pointer

Each time your program creates a class instance (e.g. a and b in the following
program), C++ creates a special pointer called this, which contains the address of
the current object instance. Each time your program invokes an instance method
(e.g. a.init()), the compiler preassigns a special pointer named this to point to the
object instance. !he value of this pointer changes with di"erent instance
invocations. C++ recogni#es the this pointer only when a nonstatic member of the
object instance is e$ecuting. !he instances, in turn, use the this pointer to access
the di"erent methods. %&'
Every member function of a class has an implicitly de(ned constant pointer called
this. !he type of this is the type of the class of which the function is member. )t is
initiali#ed when a member function is called to the address of the class instance for
which the function was called. %*'
!he following statement is used to return the value to which this points to currently.
%&'
return (*this);
!he following program illustrates the concept of this pointer. %+]
1 class point {
2 public:
3 void print() {cout << ( << x << , << y << );
! void init(doubl" u, doubl" v) {x#u;y#v;
$ point inv"rs"(){x#%x; y#%y; return(*this);
& point '()"r"*a+*,() {r"turn t)is;
- privat":
. doubl" x, y;
/ ;
10 int +ain()
11 {
12 point a, b;
13
1! a.init(1.$, %2.$);
1$ a.print();
1& cout << 1n a is at << a.()"r"*a+*,() << "ndl;
1- b#a.inv"rs"();
1. b.print();
1/ cout << 1n b is at << b.()"r"*a+*,() << "ndl;
20
(*.,, +.,)
a is at
-$--./fdd/
(*.,, +.,)
b is at
0utput
1ictorial presentation of this
pointer
this pointer
2hether in class member functions the this pointer is e$plicitly used or not, the C+
+ compiler accesses all class members by means of an implicit this pointer %*'. !he
following code illustrates this fact.
!he this pointer is useful when it is needed during e$ecution of a class member
function to get a 3handle4 on the class object used to call the function. 5ecause, in
a member function, the class variable with which the function was called is out of
scope, the this pointer is provided as that 3handle4.
Note: Class instance, object instance, class variable means the same thing and has been used
interchangeably in this tutorial.
Reference:
*. Connor 6e$ton, 7ewnes C++ 1ocket 5ook, +
nd
edition
class t)is*ptr{
public:
void init(c)ar 'str) { strcpy(2na+", str);
void s)o(*(it)*t)is(void)
{cout << 3a+": << t)is%42na+" << "ndl;
void s)o(*(it)out*t)is(void)
{ cout << 3a+": << 2na+" << "ndl;
privat":
c)ar 2na+"530];
;

void +ain(void)
{
t)is*ptr a;
a.init(6lic");
a.s)o(*(it)*t)is();
a.s)o(*(it)out*t)is();

1 point inv"rs"(){
2 point c;
3 c.init(3,&);
! x#%x;
$ y#%y;
& 't)is#c;
- r"turn('t)is);
.
/ void +ain(void)
10 {
11 point a;
12 a.init (1,2);
13 a.inv"rs"();
1!
this pointer
+. )ra 1ohl, C++ for C 1rogrammers, &
rd
edition
&. 8ris 9amsa, 9amsa:s C;C++;C< 1rogrammer:s 5ible, +
nd
edition

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