Calling a string getter function from a header file - c++

Question

I'm learning C++, and I'm just messing around with putting classes in separate files for practice. I have a getter function, which returns a string (because the variable is saved as a string). However, from my main() function, I am not sure how to call it. I know the problem is probably that I need to include string somewhere when I call the object, but I have no idea how to format it.
I know this is a pretty newbie questions, but I couldn't find the answer anywhere. Could someone help me out?
(p.s. I'm not trying to get this specific code to work, since it's useless. I'm just trying to learn how to apply it for future reference).
I've tried throwing in string in a couple of places when calling or creating the object, but I always get an error. I know I could get around it by not encapsulating the variable or not having a separate class file, but that's not what I want.
main.cpp
#include <iostream>
#include "usernameclass.h"
#include <string>
using namespace std;
int main()
{
usernameclass usernameobject;
usernameobject.getUsername();
return 0;
}
usernameclass.h
#ifndef USERNAMECLASS_H
#define USERNAMECLASS_H
#include <string>
class usernameclass
{
public:
usernameclass();
std::string getUsername();
void setUsername(std::string name);
askUsername();
private:
std::string usernameVar = "test";
};
#endif
usernameclass.cpp
#include "usernameclass.h"
#include <iostream>
#include "username.h"
#include <string>
using namespace std;
string usernameclass::getUsername(){
return usernameVar;
cout << "test cout" << endl;
}
usernameclass::askUsername(){
string name;
cout << "What is your name?" << endl;
cin >> name;
setUsername(name);
cout << "Ah, so your name is "+usernameVar+", great name I guess!" << endl;
cin.get();
cin.get();
cout << "You're about to do some stuff, so get ready!" << endl;
}
usernameclass::usernameclass(){}
void usernameclass::setUsername(string name){
string* nameptr = &usernameVar;
*nameptr = name;
}
Expected result: runs getUsername() function and returns usernameVar
Actual result: doesn't run the getUsername() function

Answer 1

The current code would not compile, because you have not specified return type of 'askUsername()' routine, which is 'void', I believe.
Other things are good, apart from an output in 'getUsername()', which happens after returning from the function and about which you should have received a warning, I guess.
To the question: you can call that 'get' method in 'main()' as:
cout << usernameobject.getUsername();

Answer 2

Your code should be structured more like this instead:
main.cpp
#include <iostream>
#include "usernameclass.h"
int main()
{
usernameclass usernameobject;
// optional:
// usernameobject.askUsername();
// do something with usernameobject.getUsername() as needed...
return 0;
}
usernameclass.h
#ifndef USERNAMECLASS_H
#define USERNAMECLASS_H
#include <string>
class usernameclass
{
public:
std::string getUsername() const;
void setUsername(std::string name);
void askUsername();
private:
std::string usernameVar = "test";
};
#endif
usernameclass.cpp
#include <iostream>
#include "usernameclass.h"
std::string usernameclass::getUsername() const {
return usernameVar;
}
void usernameclass::setUsername(std::string name) {
usernameVar = name;
}
void usernameclass::askUsername() {
std::string name;
std::cout << "What is your name?" << std::endl;
std::getline(std::cin, std::name);
setUsername(name);
std::cout << "Ah, so your name is " << getUsername() << ", great name I guess!" << std::endl;
std::cout << "You're about to do some stuff, so get ready!" << std::endl;
}