Question

Please have a look at the following code

GameObject.h

#pragma once
class GameObject
{
public: 
    GameObject(int);
    ~GameObject(void);


    int id;

private:
    GameObject(void);


};

GameObject.cpp

#include "GameObject.h"
#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

static int counter = 0;


GameObject::GameObject(void)
{
}

GameObject::GameObject(int i)
{
    counter++;
    id = i;
}


GameObject::~GameObject(void)
{
}

Main.cpp

#include <iostream>
#include "GameObject.h"

using namespace std;

int main()
{
    //GameObject obj1;
    //cout << obj1.id << endl;

    GameObject obj2(45);
    cout << obj2.id << endl;;
//  cout << obj2.counter << endl;

    GameObject obj3(45);
    GameObject obj4(45);
    GameObject obj5(45);


    //Cannot get Static value here
    //cout << "Number of Objects: " << GameObject
    //

    system("pause");
    return 0;
}

Here, I am trying to record how many instances have been created. I know it can be done by a static data member, but I can’t access it withing the Main method! Please help!

PS:

I am seeeking for a direct access, without a getter method

Answer 1

Your static variable, counter cannot be accessed because it isn’t a member of GameObject. If you want to access the counter, you’ll need to do something like this:

GameObject.h

#pragma once

class GameObject
{
public: 
    ...
    static int GetCounter();
    ...
};

GameObject.cpp

int GameObject::GetCounter()
{
    return counter;
}

Then you can access the variable like:

cout << "Number of Objects: " << GameObject::GetCounter();

Of course, there are other ways of accessing a static variable, such as making the counter variable a static member of your GameObject class (which I would recommend).