C++ Extending an Array Class (OOP)

Question

Is it possible to derive a child from an array Class?

What I am playing with right now is: Creating an array of Linked Lists

I am building a List class from which I can derive different types of lists (ie. Linear, Circular, Double Linked, etc...

What I would like to do is to extend an array class to make a "arrayOfLists" class. Then I would take the child class and add to it a LinkedList object member.

Is this possible? Am I even thinking of OOP correctly in this instance?

Thank you for your help

btw - I am working on a class project. I'm not looking for solutions other than being pointed in the right direction. — Cognibuild
– Cognibuild, Commented Oct 23, 2013 at 20:18
What do you mean by "an array class"? You can have an array containing objects of any class that you like, but an array is not a class. Please clarify. — JBentley
– JBentley, Commented Oct 23, 2013 at 20:21
I'm almost positive you can't extend from the array primitive itself i.e. int a[]; However, you can create a wrapper class that holds an array as its core variable and then write functions for your class that help with array operations. In fact, c++11 proposes something like this: cplusplus.com/reference/array/array — zero298
– zero298, Commented Oct 23, 2013 at 20:23
im not sure why i got downvoted (oh well). (ex). I was thinking to create an array in which each member has a "root" pointer to an unique ll. I thought that rather than creating the code each time I want to do so, that i could use inheritance to simplify the coded acts of growing and shrinking the array for each ll I want to add. Is that more clear? — Cognibuild
– Cognibuild, Commented Oct 23, 2013 at 20:59

Jerry Coffin · Accepted Answer · 2013-10-23 20:24:57Z

2

The fact that you're talking about it as an arrayOfLists class is a pretty good clue that inheritance is the wrong tool for this job.

Inheritance (public inheritance, anyway) should only be used when the derived class can be substituted for the base class under any possible circumstances. In other words, that an arrayOfLists could be used anywhere a List could be used. Although that might be possible, it seems fairly unlikely.

It sounds to me like what you want is really just an array-like template (e.g., std::vector) instantiated over one of your linked list classes.

answered Oct 23, 2013 at 20:24

Jerry Coffin

494k83 gold badges657 silver badges1.2k bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

3 Comments

JoeG Over a year ago

Seeing as this is for a "class project" on OOP, it's probable he's expected to produce something using classic OO concepts - in which case Java or C#'s container classes might be a better guide. C++'s template based containers with no (explicit) parent interface don't really fit into the inheritance heavy OO that's commonly taught.

Jerry Coffin Over a year ago

@JoeGauterin: I can at least hope they won't demand bad design for a class project, can't I?

Cognibuild Over a year ago

yes.. im learning OOP. Thank you for being insightful. @Jerry - i was thinking more about extending from some sort of primitive array class (as zero298 commented).. which it seems can't be (nor need be) done. thanks

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

C++ Extending an Array Class (OOP)

1 Answer 1

3 Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

3 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related