Creating a Pet and Dog Class in C++
How can we define a pet class in C++?
What are the necessary steps to create a pet class that stores the pet's name, age, and weight?
What is a dog class in C++ and how is it related to the pet class?
How do we define a dog class that is derived from the pet class?
Defining a Pet Class:
To define a pet class that stores the pet's name, age, and weight, follow these steps:
- Create a class called "Pet".
- Add private member variables for the pet's name, age, and weight.
- Create appropriate constructors to initialize the member variables.
- Add accessor functions (getters) and mutator functions (setters) for each member variable.
- Define a function named "getlifespan" that returns a string with the value "unknown lifespan".
Defining a Dog Class Derived from Pet:
To define a dog class derived from the pet class:
- Create a class called "Dog" that is derived from the "Pet" class.
- Add a private member variable named "breed" to store the breed of the dog.
- Implement mutator and accessor functions for the "breed" member variable.
Detailed Explanation:
To define a pet class in C++, we first create a class called "Pet" with private member variables like name, age, and weight. We then add appropriate constructors to initialize these variables and accessor functions to retrieve their values. Additionally, we include mutator functions to modify the values of these variables. Lastly, we define a function named "getlifespan" that returns a string with the value "unknown lifespan".
For the dog class, which is derived from the pet class, we create a class called "Dog" that inherits from the "Pet" class. We introduce a private member variable called "breed" to store the breed of the dog. By implementing mutator and accessor functions for the "breed" variable, we can set and retrieve the breed information for each dog object.
The code snippet provided showcases how to define these classes in C++ and create objects to access their properties. By following these steps, you can effectively organize and manage pet and dog data within your C++ programs.