Calling C++ class methods via a function pointer

Question

How do I obtain a function pointer for a class member function, and later call that member function with a specific object? I’d like to write:

class Dog : A         


        

Answer 1

Reason why you cannot use function pointers to call member functions is that ordinary function pointers are usually just the memory address of the function.

To call a member function, you need to know two things:

• Which member function to call
• Which instance should be used (whose member function)

Ordinary function pointers cannot store both. C++ member function pointers are used to store a), which is why you need to specify the instance explicitly when calling a member function pointer.