C++ Classes: Which are the differences between 'struct' and 'class'?

[ovidiucucu]

Q: Which are the differences between struct and class?

A: In C++ programming language, there is no difference between classes defined by using struct or class keywords, except the default access to members and base classes.

• for struct the default access is public;
• for class the default access is private.

Examples

1. struct SFoo : Base
   {
      int m_foo;
      void Foo();
   };

   is equivalent to
   

   struct SFoo : public Base
   {
   public:
      int m_foo;
      void Foo();
   };

2. class CFoo : Base
   {
      int m_foo;
      void Foo();
   };

   is equivalent to
   

   class CFoo : private Base
   {
   private:
      int m_foo;
      void Foo();
   };

See also

• [Article] Dispelling Common C++ Class Myths
• [C++] What are the differences between classes and structs?