‭Explain the types of base classes in c++ in detail.

‬
I‭n C++, a‬‭base class‬‭is a class from which other classes (called‬‭derived‬
‭classes‬‭) inherit properties and behaviors. Depending on how the inheritance is‬
‭structured and used, base classes can be classified into the following types:‬
‭1. Direct Base Class:-‬‭A class that is directly inherited by another class is called‬
‭direct base class.‬
‭Example‬‭:‬
class Animal {‬
‭
public:‬
‭
void eat() {‬
‭
cout << "Animal is eating." << endl;‬
‭
}‬
‭
};‬
‭
class Dog : public Animal {‬
‭
// Dog directly inherits from Animal‬
‭
};‬
‭
‭Here,‬‭ Dog‬‭directly inherits from‬‭
Animal‬ Animal‬‭is a direct base class.‬
‭, so‬‭
‭2. Indirect Base Class:-‬‭A class that is not directly inherited by the derived class‬
‭but is inherited through another base class.‬
‭Example‬‭:‬
class LivingBeing {‬
‭
public:‬
‭
void breathe() {‬
‭
cout << "Breathing..." << endl;‬
‭
}‬
‭
};‬
‭
class Animal : public LivingBeing {‬
‭
// Animal inherits from LivingBeing‬
‭
};‬
‭
class Dog : public Animal {‬
‭
// Dog indirectly inherits from LivingBeing‬
‭
};‬
‭
Here,LivingBeing‬‭is the indirect base class of‬‭
‭ Dog‬ ‭, inherited through‬
Animal‬
‭ ‭.‬
‭3. Virtual Base Class:-‬‭A base class that is shared between multiple derived‬
‭ lasses to prevent duplication of inherited members. To solve the‬‭diamond‬
c
‭problem‬‭in multiple inheritance, Virtual Base class is used..‬
‭Example‬‭:‬
class LivingBeing {‬
‭
public:‬
‭
void exist() {‬
‭
cout << "Existing..." << endl;‬
‭
}‬
‭
};‬
‭
class Animal : virtual public LivingBeing { };‬
‭
class Plant : virtual public LivingBeing { };‬
‭
class Hybrid : public Animal, public Plant {‬
‭
// Only one copy of LivingBeing exists in Hybrid‬
‭
};‬
‭
‭Here, The‬‭ virtual‬‭keyword ensures that only one copy of‬‭ LivingBeing‬‭is‬
Hybrid‬
‭inherited by‬‭ Hybrid‬‭inherits from both‬‭
‭, even though‬‭ Animal‬‭and‬
Plant‬
‭ ‭.‬
‭4. Abstract Base Class:_‬‭A class that provides a blueprint for other classes‬
‭ nd cannot be instantiated. It contains at least one‬‭pure virtual function‬‭. Object‬
a
‭of abstract class can not be created,because it contains one or more pure virtual‬
‭functions without definition..An abstract class is used as a template on which the‬
‭class hierarchy may be created.‬
‭Considerations:-‬‭1. It can only be used through inheritance.‬
‭2.It can not be used as an argument type in call by value‬
‭3. It can not be used as an return type‬
‭4. It can not be used as the type of an explicit conversion‬
‭5. Pointers and references to abstract class can be declared.‬
‭Example‬‭:‬
class Shape {‬
‭
public:‬
‭
virtual void draw() = 0; // Pure virtual function‬
‭
};‬
‭
class Circle : public Shape {‬
‭
public:‬
‭
void draw() override {‬
‭
 cout << "Drawing a circle." << endl;‬
‭
}‬
‭
‭;‬
}
Here,Shape‬‭is an abstract base class because it has a pure virtual function‬
‭
‭(‭d
‬ raw‬ Shape‬
‭). You cannot create an object of‬‭ ‭, but it can be used as a base for‬
Circle‬
‭classes like‬‭ ‭.‬
‭Code reusability :-‬‭Code reusability in C++ refers to the concept of writing‬
‭ ode in a way that allows it to be used in multiple programs or multiple parts of‬
c
‭the same program without rewriting it. It is one of the key benefits of‬
‭object-oriented programming (OOP) and helps reduce duplication, save time,‬
‭and make code easier to maintain and extend.‬
‭C++ provides several features and mechanisms to achieve code‬
‭reusability.These features are given below:-‬
‭1. Functions:-‬‭Functions allow you to write reusable blocks of code that can‬
‭be called multiple times with different inputs.‬
‭ . Classes and Objects:-‬‭Classes encapsulate data and functions into reusable‬
2
‭components. Once a class is defined, you can create multiple objects from it.‬
‭3. Inheritance:-‬‭Inheritance allows a new class (derived class) to reuse the‬
‭properties and methods of an existing class (base class).‬
‭4. Templates:-‬‭Templates allow you to write generic code that works for different‬
‭data types, making it highly reusable.‬
‭5. Standard Template Library (STL):-‬‭C++ provides pre-built classes and‬
f‭unctions (like vectors, stacks, queues, etc.) in the STL, which you can‬
‭reuse in your programs.‬
‭6. Polymorphism:-‬‭Polymorphism allows you to write code that works with‬
‭different types of objects in a reusable way, especially through base class‬
‭pointers or references.‬
‭Benefits of Code Reusability‬
‭ .‬ ‭Saves Time‬‭: You don’t need to write the same logic again and again.‬
1
‭2.‬ ‭Reduces Errors‬‭: Tested and reusable code is less likely to have bugs.‬
‭3.‬ ‭Improves Maintainability‬‭: Changes in reusable components automatically‬
‭reflect wherever they are used.‬
‭4.‬ ‭Enhances Readability‬‭: Reusable code is modular, making programs‬
‭easier to understand.‬