C Virtual Function

In C, dynamic behavior at runtime is achieved using structures combined with function pointers. This allows for a rudimentary form of polymorphism, where different implementations can be invoked depending on the object context. This mechanism is often used to simulate features commonly found in object-oriented languages.
- Structures act as containers for both data and function references
- Function pointers enable method overriding behavior
- Code becomes more flexible and extensible
Note: C does not support virtual functions natively, but similar behavior can be emulated using disciplined design with function pointers and structs.
To implement this pattern, define a structure containing pointers to functions representing operations. Each derived "type" can provide its own set of function implementations, mimicking inheritance and method overriding.
- Define a base structure with function pointer members
- Create specific instances with customized functions
- Call functions via the base pointer for dynamic resolution
Concept | C Implementation |
---|---|
Inheritance | Struct embedding |
Method overriding | Function pointer assignment |
Virtual dispatch | Calling through function pointer |