Question

Though we can get the feel of virtual function by inheriting a class and enhancing the functionality of the function in the base class, when should we go for virtual function?

Answer 1

Virtual methods should be used when you want to provide default behaviour in the base class. The child classes can then override this function and provide their own, more specific behaviour.

For example:

  class Animal
  { 
   public virtual void Say() 
   { 
      //default behaviour
      Console.WriteLine("Animal makes generic noise"); 
   } 
  } 

  class Dog : Animal
  { 
    public override void Say()
    { 
      //specific behaviour
      Console.WriteLine("Dog barks.");
    } 
  }