Function Return Types

	Chapter 16 - Object-oriented Programming Foundations
	Visual C++ 6: The Complete Reference
	Chris H. Pappas and William H. Murray, III

Copyright 1998 The McGraw-Hill Companies

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	C++ and Object-oriented Programming

	Object-oriented programming concepts cross language boundaries. Microsoft Pascal, for example, was one of the first languages to allow the use of objects. What does C++ have that makes it a suitable language for developing object-oriented programs? The answer is simply the class data type. It is C++’s class type, built upon C’s struct type, that gives the language the ability to build objects. Also, C++ brings several additional features to object-oriented programming not included in other languages that simply make use of objects. C++’s advantages include strong typing, operator overloading, and less emphasis on the preprocessor. It is true that you can do object-oriented programming with other products and in other languages, but with C++, the benefits are outstanding. This is a language that was designed, not retrofitted, for object-oriented programming.

	In the next section of this chapter, you will learn some object-oriented terminology. These terms and definitions will help you form a solid understanding of this programming technique. Be prepared; the new terminology will be your biggest hurdle as you enter the world of object-oriented programming.

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