Intro Function pointer

2.1  Define a Function Pointer

Regarding their syntax, there are two different types of function pointers: On the one hand there are pointers to ordinary C functions or to static C++ member functions. On the other hand there are pointers to non-static C++ member functions. The basic difference is that all pointers to non-static member functions need a hidden argument: The this-pointer to an instance of the class. Always keep in mind: These two types of function pointers are incompatible with each other.
Since a function pointer is nothing else than a variable, it must be defined as usual. In the following example we define three function pointers named pt2Function, pt2Member and pt2ConstMember. They point to functions, which take one float and two char and return an int. In the C++ example it is assumed, that the functions, our pointers point to, are (non-static) member functions of TMyClass.

// 2.1 define a function pointer and initialize to NULL
int (*pt2Function)(float, char, char) = NULL;                        // C
int (TMyClass::*pt2Member)(float, char, char) = NULL;                // C++
int (TMyClass::*pt2ConstMember)(float, char, char) const = NULL;     // C++

2.5  Calling a Function using a Function Pointer

In C you call a function using a function pointer by explicitly dereferencing it using the * operator. Alternatively you may also just use the function pointer's instead of the funtion's name. In C++ the two operators .* resp. ->* are used together with an instance of a class in order to call one of their (non-static) member functions. If the call takes place within another member function you may use the this-pointer.

// 2.5 calling a function using a function pointer
int result1 = pt2Function    (12, 'a', 'b');          // C short way
int result2 = (*pt2Function) (12, 'a', 'b');          // C

TMyClass instance1;
int result3 = (instance1.*pt2Member)(12, 'a', 'b');   // C++
int result4 = (*this.*pt2Member)(12, 'a', 'b');       // C++ if this-pointer can be used

TMyClass* instance2 = new TMyClass;
int result4 = (instance2->*pt2Member)(12, 'a', 'b');  // C++, instance2 is a pointer
delete instance2;

 

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