Virtual Class

In object-oriented programming, a virtual class is an inner class that can be overridden by subclasses of the outer class.

Virtual classes are inner classes of another outer class, which behave like virtual functions. This means they can be overridden in a subclass of the outer class, and the run time type of a virtual class depends on the run time type of an object of the outer class. (Just like the run time type of an object decides which virtual function should be used.)

Like this a run time instance type of the outer class object not only decides on the polymorphic type of his own type object, but also on a whole family tree of virtual class members.

Famous quotes containing the words virtual and/or class:

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    Jean Baudrillard (b. 1929)

    We believe that Carlyle has, after all, more readers, and is better known to-day for this very originality of style, and that posterity will have reason to thank him for emancipating the language, in some measure, from the fetters which a merely conservative, aimless, and pedantic literary class had imposed upon it, and setting an example of greater freedom and naturalness.
    Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)