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C++ friend function

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C++ Friend function

If a function is defined as a friend function in C++, then the protected and private data of a class can be accessed using the function.

By using the keyword friend compiler knows the given function is a friend function.

For accessing the data, the declaration of a friend function should be done inside the body of a class starting with the keyword friend.

Declaration of friend function in C++

In the above declaration, the friend function is preceded by the keyword friend. The function can be defined anywhere in the program like a normal C++ function. The function definition does not use either the keyword friend or scope resolution operator.

Characteristics of a Friend function:

  • The function is not in the scope of the class to which it has been declared as a friend.
  • It cannot be called using the object as it is not in the scope of that class.
  • It can be invoked like a normal function without using the object.
  • It cannot access the member names directly and has to use an object name and dot membership operator with the member name.
  • It can be declared either in the private or the public part.

C++ friend function Example

Let’s see the simple example of C++ friend function used to print the length of a box.

Output:

Length of box: 10   

Let’s see a simple example when the function is friendly to two classes.

Output:

10 

In the above example, min() function is friendly to two classes, i.e., the min() function can access the private members of both the classes A and B.

C++ Friend class

A friend class can access both private and protected members of the class in which it has been declared as friend.

Let’s see a simple example of a friend class.

Output:

value of x is : 5 

In the above example, class B is declared as a friend inside the class A. Therefore, B is a friend of class A. Class B can access the private members of class A.

Next TopicC++ Inheritance

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