How do I design polymorphic hierarchies safely?

Polymorphic hierarchies in C++ allow different classes to be treated through a common interface, enabling code reusability and flexibility. However, designing these hierarchies requires careful consideration to ensure type safety and performance.

C++, polymorphism, inheritance, type safety, virtual functions, abstract classes


        // Example of a polymorphic hierarchy in C++
        class Shape {
        public:
            virtual void draw() = 0; // Pure virtual function
            virtual ~Shape() {}       // Virtual destructor for safety
        };

        class Circle : public Shape {
        public:
            void draw() override {
                // Implementation for Circle
                std::cout << "Drawing Circle" << std::endl;
            }
        };

        class Square : public Shape {
        public:
            void draw() override {
                // Implementation for Square
                std::cout << "Drawing Square" << std::endl;
            }
        };

        void renderShapes(const std::vector& shapes) {
            for (const auto& shape : shapes) {
                shape->draw(); // Safely call the appropriate draw method
            }
        }

        int main() {
            std::vector shapes;
            shapes.push_back(new Circle());
            shapes.push_back(new Square());

            renderShapes(shapes);

            // Cleanup
            for (Shape* shape : shapes) {
                delete shape; // Prevent memory leaks
            }

            return 0;
        }

C++ polymorphism inheritance type safety virtual functions abstract classes

How do I design polymorphic hierarchies safely?

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How do I design polymorphic hierarchies safely?

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