Question

Let’s say we have:

class Base {...}
class A : public Base {...}
class B : public Base {...}

Is it possible to set as argument type of a generic method:

myMethod([typei'mlookingfor] c) {}

so that I can pass Base, A and B to myMethod() without overloading the method?
and also make it work with references and pointers?

Answer 1

If a pointer or a reference to the base class works for you, just use that:

void myMethod(Base& c) {}
A a;
B b;
myMethod(a);  //OK
myMethod(b);  //OK

Note that you’ll have to use references or pointers to prevent object slicing. If the method is myMethod(Base c), you’ll lose type information of derived objects.

If not, you can use a template

template<typename T>
void myMethod(T& c)
{
}
A a;
B b;
myMethod(a);
myMethod(b);