Question

class User {
    public:
        int v() {
            return min_pass_len;
        }
        static const int min_pass_len = 10;
};
class AdminUser : public User {
    public:
        int w() {
            return min_pass_len;
    }

    static const int min_pass_len = 42;
};

Then

int main() {
    AdminUser a;
    std::cout << a.v()  << " why? " << a.w() <<  std::endl;
    return 0;
}

Can I somehow avoid the extra method call? I’m also interested in other solutions, best practices. Thanks!

Answer 1

Just use a virtual method that returns a different number, skip the static var.

class User {
    public:
        virtual int v() {
            return 10;
        }
};

class AdminUser : public User {
    public:
        virtual int v() {
            return 42;
    }    
};