(C++)++ Course

Separate Files for Classes

1/10

It might be easier to think of the separate files for classes in a different way, if it's confusing for you. If you remember the way you can declare and define a function, where you write the prototype first and then define it later, you can think of the files in this way as well. The header file is where the prototypes go and the source file is the definition location:

//includes above
void funcPrototype(int a);// prototype would go in the header file

int main() {
    funcPrototype(4);
    return 0;
}

void funcPrototype(int a) {// definition would go in the source file
    a *= 2;
}

I also wanted to point something out. If you are making a program with several different classes, and all of them have their own files, think about your includes. Sometimes you might be including one haeder file several times in many other files. As SL mentioned, you can use the #ifndef #define method or you can place this line in every file you might include to prevent the compiler from throwing errors: #pragma once. You might also include files, by accident, in a circular way. For example, you might have a class Item that you need in your Player class, but that item class needs to know about the Player class too. You can prevent this using what's called 'forward declaration'. I'll talk about this in later courses, but feel free to look it up.

Use quotations to include your own header files too: #include "MyClass.h".

Destructors

2/10

I like how SL used the destructor in their lesson to print out "Destructor" when the object went out of scope, because this is actually a GREAT way to learn about when and where your objects are deleted. I'll link a code you can run and save that will show you how it works, and you should also do this as well when you are struggling with this concept. Code Here

Selection Operator

3/10

Here is the same code they used but with the #pragma once header at the top. This will have the same effect.

#pragma once
class MyClass
{
    public:
    MyClass();
    protected:
    private:
};

Member Initializers

5/10

Anyone who has looked at my codes will know I use member initializer lists all the time. They work really well for me and it helps organize my code as well. Starting off using them will help you in the long run I think.

More on Classes

C++ Course, More on Classes