C/C++ Struct vs Class

In C++ the structure and class are basically same. But there are some minor differences. These differences are like below.

• The class members are private by default, but members of structures are public. Let us see these two codes to see the differences.

Example

#include <iostream> using namespace std; class my_class {    int x = 10; }; int main() {    my_class my_ob;    cout << my_ob.x; }

Output

This program will not be compiled. It will generate compile time error for the private data member.

Example

#include <iostream> using namespace std; struct my_struct {    int x = 10; }; int main() {    my_struct my_ob;    cout << my_ob.x; }

Output

10

• When we derive a structure from a class or structure, the default access specifier of that base class is public, but when we deriving a class the default access specifier is private.

Example

#include <iostream> using namespace std; class my_base_class {    public:    int x = 10; }; class my_derived_class : my_base_class { }; int main() {    my_derived_class d;    cout << d.x; }

Output

This program will not be compiled. It will generate compile time error that the variable x of the base class is inaccessible

Example

#include <iostream> using namespace std; class my_base_class {    public:    int x = 10; }; struct my_derived_struct : my_base_class { }; int main() {    my_derived_struct d;    cout << d.x; }

Output

10