Virtual Function

Definitions

1. A member function declared with the virtual keyword in C++ (or overridable by default in Java/C#) that supports dynamic dispatch — the actual function called is determined at runtime based on the object's real type, not the pointer's declared type.

   In plain English: A function that can be overridden by subclasses, where the computer figures out which version to call based on the actual object type at runtime.

   Example: "Make draw() virtual so calling it on a Shape pointer invokes Circle::draw() or Square::draw() as appropriate."

Related Terms

• Destructor
• Operator Overloading
• Method Dispatch
• Method Override
• Overload
• Override
• Reverse Iterator
• Subtype
• Virtual Method
• Virtual Method Table
• Virtual Table