Methods

C++ class methods are user-defined functions that can be used within an instance of the class. A dot notation . is used before method names to distinguish them from regular functions.

A class method can be defined in two ways:

• Inside the class definition
• Outside the class definition

Inside the Class

class Person {
  string name;

  public:
    // Defines the method
    void get_name() {
      return name;
    }
}

int main() {
  Person robert;

  // Calls the method
  robert.get_name();

  return 0;
}

Outside the Class

class Person {
  string name;

  public:
    void get_name();
}

// Defines the method
void Person::get_name() {
  return name;
}

int main() {
  Person robert;

  // Calls the method
  robert.get_name();

  return 0;
}

Parameters can also be added to class methods:

class Person {
  string name;

  public:
    // Defines the method
    void set_name(string newName) {
      name = newName;
    }

    void get_name() {
      return name;
    }
}

int main() {
  Person robert;

  // Sets the name class member
  robert.set_name("Robert");

  // Prints "Robert"
  std::cout << robert.get_name();

  return 0;
}