C++ static functions and variables - c++

I have written a class as shown below:
#include<iostream>
using namespace std;
class A
{
static int cnt;
static void inc()
{
cnt++;
}
int a;
public:
A(){ inc(); }
};
int main()
{
A d;
return 0;
}
I want to call the function inc through the constructor, but when i compile i am getting an error as:
/tmp/ccWR1moH.o: In function `A::inc()':
s.cpp:(.text._ZN1A3incEv[A::inc()]+0x6): undefined reference to `A::cnt'
s.cpp:(.text._ZN1A3incEv[A::inc()]+0xf): undefined reference to `A::cnt'
I am unable to understand what the error is... plz help...

Static field is not defined - Take a look at Why are classes with static data members getting linker errors?.
#include<iostream>
using namespace std;
class A
{
static int cnt;
static void inc(){
cnt++;
}
int a;
public:
A(){ inc(); }
};
int A::cnt; //<---- HERE
int main()
{
A d;
return 0;
}

Inside the class static int cnt; is only declared, and need to be defined. In C++ you usually declare in your .h .hpp files and then define your static class members in your .c and .cpp files.
In your case, you need to add
int A::cnt=0; // = 0 Would be better, otherwise you're accessing an uninitialized variable.

Related

unable to access static methods (C++)

Here's the code:
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class Zaix
{
private:
static int mor;
public:
static int beri;
static void setmor(int lip)
{
Zaix::mor=lip;
}
static int getmor(void)
{
return mor;
}
};
int Zaix::beri=3;
int main()
{
cout<<Zaix::beri<<endl;
Zaix::beri++;
cout<<Zaix::beri<<endl;
Zaix::setmor(6);
return 0;
}
Now, line 4 of main() function Zaix::setmor(6); somehow invalidates line 11 of the code presented Zaix::mor=lip;. With this line commented out, the whole thing compiles OK, with it present, compiler gives this error:
undefined reference to Zaix::mor"
Any idea why that is?
Define the variable outside class as well.
int Zaix::mor;
For assignment:
int Zaix::mor = 4;
In C++ we need to define all the static member variable of a class outside of it else we get a linking error. You just need to do like below:-
int Zaix::mor;// Just add this line below int Zaix::beri = 3;

why static data members must have to be defined outside of class and why not with static constant data members ?

First question:-
why this is must have to be defined static data members outside of the class and why not this same concept follows in static constant data members?
Example for static data members:-
#include<iostream>
using namespace std;
class game
{
static int num;
int i;
public:
void foo()
{
cout<<endl<<num<<endl;
}
};
int game::num=0;
int main()
{
game g;
g.foo();
return(0);
}
Example for static constant data members:-
#include<iostream>
using namespace std;
class game
{
static const int num;
int i;
public:
void foo()
{
cout<<endl<<num<<endl;
}
};
int game::num=0; \\error why ?
int main()
{
game g;
g.foo();
return(0);
}
second question:-
Static constant data members initialization is allowed only for integral types why not for strings ?
#include<iostream>
using namespace std;
class game
{
static const char name[10]="vikas"; \\ error why ?
int i;
public:
void foo()
{
cout<<endl<<name<<endl;
}
};
int main()
{
game g;
g.foo();
return(0);
}

Can't call a static method in Qt

I have a simple class containing a static attribute. There are two static methods in this class: one to get the static attribute and the other to initialize it. Yet when call the static method the compiler reports an error.
The class:
class Sudoku {
Cell Grid[9][9];
int CurrentLine;
int CurrentColumn;
void deleteValInColumn(int val, int col);
void deleteValInRow(int val, int row);
void deleteValInBox(int val, int x, int y);
static int unsetted; //!
public:
static void IniUnsetted() { //!
unsetted = 0;
}
static int GetUns() { //!
return unsetted;
}
Sudoku(ini InitGrid[9][9]);
void Calculate_Prob_Values();
Cell getCell(int x, int y);
QVector<int> getPossibleValues(int x, int y);
bool SolveIt();
};
This is the error I get:
In member function 'bool Sudoku::SolveIt()':
no return statement in function returning non-void [-Wreturn-type]
In function `ZN6Sudoku6GetUnsEv':
undefined reference to `Sudoku::unsetted` error: ld returned 1 exit status
You will need to define the static variable, even if it is not initialized explicitly. That is what is missing in your code. You should have provided a simple example to reproduce the issue, but for your convenience I am providing one which works.
main.cpp
class Foo {
public:
static int si;
static void bar();
};
int Foo::si = 0; // By default, it will be initialized to zero though.
void Foo::bar() {
Foo::si = 10;
};
int main()
{
Foo::bar();
return 0;
}
Note: I would suggest to get someone to review your code because "unsetted" is incorrect English. If we are at it, you would probably need to fix your indentation as well.
In your code there is no definition of unsetted, there is only declaration.
The solution is to put somewhere in your cpp file a line like this:
int Sudoku::unsetted
The reason for that is that each instantiation of Sudoku class will use the same unsetted member so it cannot be defined for each of them, so it's up to programmer to define it in one place only.
In your cpp file, define the static variable (ideally with an initialization):
int Sudoku::unsetted = 0;
If you are declaring any static variable in class, then you should define that variable outside the class also.
Example:
class A
{
public:
static int x; // declaration
};
int A::x; // definition

C++ class with static pointer

I don't understand pointers and references very well yet, but I have a class with static methods and variables that will be referenced from main and other classes. I have a variable defined in main() that I want to pass to a variable in this class with static functions. I want those functions to change the value of the variable that is seen in the main() scope.
This is an example of what I am trying to do, but I get compiler errors...
class foo
{
public:
static int *myPtr;
bool somfunction() {
*myPtr = 1;
return true;
}
};
int main()
{
int flag = 0;
foo::myPtr = &flag;
return 0;
}
Provide the definition of the static variable outside the class as:
//foo.h
class foo
{
public:
static int *myPtr; //its just a declaration, not a definition!
bool somfunction() {
*myPtr = 1;
//where is return statement?
}
}; //<------------- you also forgot the semicolon
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//foo.cpp
#include "foo.h" //must include this!
int *foo::myPtr; //its a definition
Beside that, you also forgot the semicolon as indicated in the comment above, and somefunction needs to return a bool value.
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class foo
{
public:
static int *myPtr;
bool somfunction() {
*myPtr = 1;
return true;
}
};
//////////////////////////////////////////////////
int* foo::myPtr=new int(5); //You forgot to initialize a static data member
//////////////////////////////////////////////////
int main()
{
int flag = 0;
foo::myPtr = &flag;
return 0;
}

How to access static members of a class?

I am starting to learn C++ and Qt, but sometimes the simplest code that I paste from a book results in errors.
I'm using g++4.4.2 on Ubuntu 10.04 with QtCreator IDE. Is there a difference between the g++ compiler syntax and other compilers? For example when I try to access static members something always goes wrong.
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class A
{
public:
static int x;
static int getX() {return x;}
};
int main()
{
int A::x = 100; // error: invalid use of qualified-name 'A::x'
cout<<A::getX(); // error: : undefined reference to 'A::x'
return 0;
}
I think it's exactly the same as declared here and here (isn't it?). So what's wrong with the above code?
You've declared the static members fine, but not defined them anywhere.
Basically what you've said "there exists some static member", but never set aside some memory for it, you need:
int A::x = 100;
Somewhere outside the class and not inside main.
Section [9.4.2]
Static Data Members
The declaration of a static data member in its class definition is not a definition and may be of an incomplete type other than cv-qualified void. The definition for a static data member shall appear in a namespace scope enclosing the member’s class definition. In the definition at namespace scope, the name of the static data member shall be qualified by its class name using the :: operator
You need to define the static member variable of the class outside the class as static member variables require declaration as well as definition.
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class A
{
public:
static int x;
static int getX() {return x;}
};
int A::x; // STATIC MEMBER VARIABLE x DEFINITION
int main()
{
A::x = 100; // REMOVE int FROM HERE
cout<<A::getX();
return 0;
}
Try:
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class A
{
public:
// This declares it.
static int x;
static int getX(){return x;}
};
// Now you need an create the object so
// This must be done in once source file (at file scope level)
int A::x = 100;
int main()
{
A::x = 200;
// Notice no 'int' keyword before A::x on this line. You can modify A::x
cout<<A::getX(); // Should work
return 0;
}
The definition of static member variables must live at file scope, i.e. outside all functions, etc.
Try this example:
#include<iostream>
using namespace std;
class check
{
static int a;
public:
void change();
} ;
int check::a=10;
void check::change()
{
a++;
cout<<a<<"\n";
}
int main()
{
int i,j;
check c;
check b;
c.change();
b.change();
return 0;
}
Now you have worked out how to use static class members I will advise you that you should generally use them only in the following circumstances:
For use in templates. So in your example you could have GetX() in different classes and in a template somewhere you would use
template< typename T >
int func()
{
return T::GetX();
}
although obviously more elaborate. But here your static function being in a class serves a purpose.
Where the function needs access to the class, i.e. to private members. You could make it a friend but you may as well make it static. Often the case in callbacks.
The rest of the time you can probably use compilation-unit level functions and variables which has the advantage of taking your members out of the header (particularly if they are private). The less implementation detail you give the better.
You can use the inline keyword since c++ 17 in front of static members to avoid a definition outside of class scope. Your code should now look like this:
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class A
{
public:
inline static int x;
static int getX() {return x;}
};
int main()
{
A::x = 100; //Works now
cout<<A::getX()<<'\n';
return 0;
}
Case 1: static variable
As we all know, defining a static variable inside a class which will throw compilation error. E.g. below
class Stats
{
public:
static int AtkStats[3];
*static int a =20;* // Error: defining a value for static variable
};
int Stats::AtkStats[3] = {10, 0, 0};
Output:
error: ISO C++ forbids in-class initialization of non-const static member 'Stats::a'
Case 2: const static variable
For const static variable, we can define a value either inside a class or Outside class.
class Stats
{
public:
static const int AtkStats[3];
static const int a =20; // Success: defining a value for a const static
};
const int Stats::AtkStats[3] = {10, 0, 0};
const int Stats::a = 20; // we can define outside also
Output:
Compilation success.