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"When you make a virtual function call through a base-class pointer
(that is, when you make a polymorphic call), the compiler quietly
inserts code to fetch the VPTR and look up the function address in the
VTABLE..."

Can anyone tell me how the VPTR of the derived class is fetched? Where
can I get more information bout this?

Thank u

"Phui Hock" <> wrote in message
news:chkseq$...
> "When you make a virtual function call through a base-class pointer
> (that is, when you make a polymorphic call), the compiler quietly
> inserts code to fetch the VPTR and look up the function address in the
> VTABLE..."
>
> Can anyone tell me how the VPTR of the derived class is fetched? Where
> can I get more information bout this?
>
> Thank u
>

'Inside the C++ Object Model' by Stanley Lippman.

john

"Phui Hock" <> wrote in message
news:chkseq$...
> "When you make a virtual function call through a base-class pointer
> (that is, when you make a polymorphic call), the compiler quietly
> inserts code to fetch the VPTR and look up the function address in the
> VTABLE..."
>
> Can anyone tell me how the VPTR of the derived class is fetched? Where
> can I get more information bout this?

The book John cited does indeed give useful insight into
the design of C++.

But note that the actual mechanics of e.g. polymorphism is
completely implementation-specific. Each might implement it
in its own way. The only language requirement is that a
particular *behavior* is the result. The language does not
define things such as 'v-tables' or 'v-pointers'.

-Mike

Phui Hock wrote:

> "When you make a virtual function call through a base-class pointer
> (that is, when you make a polymorphic call),
> the compiler quietly inserts code
> to fetch the VPTR and look up the function address in the VTABLE..."
>
> Can anyone tell me how the VPTR of the derived class is fetched?
> Where can I get more information bout this?

The VPTR *is* a pointer to the VTABLE for the derived class
if the object was created using a constructor for the derived class.

Phui Hock posted:

> "When you make a virtual function call through a base-class pointer
> (that is, when you make a polymorphic call), the compiler quietly
> inserts code to fetch the VPTR and look up the function address in the
> VTABLE..."
>
> Can anyone tell me how the VPTR of the derived class is fetched? Where
> can I get more information bout this?
>
> Thank u

One thing I think you should realize: If you have a scenario where you have
a certain function:

void EatPoo()

And this function is NON-virtual in the base class:

class Base
{
public:

void EatPoo()
{
cout << "Base::EatPoo";
}
};

And then you have a derived class as so:

class Derived : public Base
{
public:

virtual void EatPoo()
{
cout << "Derived::EatPoo";
}
};

That now when you do the following:

int main()
{
Derived k;

Base& r = k;

r.EatPoo();
}

It's "Base::EatPoo" that will be called.


-JKop