Why use prefixes on member variables in C++ classes

Question

A lot of C++ code uses syntactical conventions for marking up member variables. Common examples include

• m_memberName for public members (where public

Answer 1

Other languages will use coding conventions, they just tend to be different. C# for example has probably two different styles that people tend to use, either one of the C++ methods (_variable, mVariable or other prefix such as Hungarian notation), or what I refer to as the StyleCop method.

private int privateMember;
public int PublicMember;

public int Function(int parameter)
{
  // StyleCop enforces using this. for class members.
  this.privateMember = parameter;
}

In the end, it becomes what people know, and what looks best. I personally think code is more readable without Hungarian notation, but it can become easier to find a variable with intellisense for example if the Hungarian notation is attached.

In my example above, you don't need an m prefix for member variables because prefixing your usage with this. indicates the same thing in a compiler-enforced method.

This doesn't necessarily mean the other methods are bad, people stick to what works.