Undefined Reference c++ lost - c++

Question

#include "assert.h"; // for some reason assert wouldn't work on my compiler without this
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
#include <limits> // This is helpful for inputting values. Otherwise, funny stuff happens
using namespace std;
class Product
{
public:
Product();
Product(string the_name, int the_price, int number_of);
string return_name();
void reduce_amount();
void print_data() const;
private:
string prod_name; // name of your product
int price_in_cents; // it's price in cents
int amount; // the number of the product that you have
};
Product::Product()
{
prod_name = "NULL_NAME: NEED DATA";
price_in_cents = 0;
}
Product::Product(string the_name, int the_price, int number_of)
{
assert(the_price>0);
assert(number_of>0);
assert(number_of<21);
assert(prod_name !="NULL_NAME: NEED DATA");
prod_name = the_name;
price_in_cents = the_price;
amount = number_of;
}
void Product::print_data() const
{
cout<<prod_name << endl;
cout<<"The price in cents is: " <<price_in_cents<< endl;
cout<< "Amount left: " << " " << amount << endl;
}
void Product::reduce_amount()
{
amount = amount -1;
}
string Product::return_name()
{
return prod_name;
}
class Vending_Machine
{
public:
Vending_Machine();
void empty_coins();
void print_vend_stats();
void add_product();
Product buy_product();
private:
int income_in_cents;
Product product1();
Product product2();
Product product3();
Product product4();
Product product5();
};
void Vending_Machine::empty_coins()
{
cout << "The total amount of money earned today is " << income_in_cents << " cents" << endl;
income_in_cents = 0;
cout << "All the coins have been withdrawn. The balance is now zero." << endl;
}
void Vending_Machine::print_vend_stats()
{
cout<< "Total income thus far: " << income_in_cents << endl;
if (product1().return_name() != "NULL_NAME: NEED DATA")
{
//stuff happens
}
}
int main()
{
return 0;
}
So, I'm not sure if I did all the identation correctly, but I'm having a problem with the boolean statement in vending machine print_vend_stats() function. It's saying I am making an undefined fereence to product1(). What does this mean?

Answer 1

When you declare
Product product1();
you declare a member function, the parentheses is what makes it a function.
If you drop the parentheses
Product product1;
you declare a member variable, an actual instance of the Product class.
Another example, you wouldn't write e.g.
int income_in_cents();
do declare income_in_cents as a variable, now would you?
It doesn't matter if the type is a primitive type like int, or a class like Product, Member variables are declared like normal variables like you do anywhere else.