Creating a new object from dynamic type info

Question

In C++, is there any way to query the type of an object and then use that information to dynamically create a new object of the same type?

For example, say I have a

Answer 1

When there are extremely many classes deriving from the same base class then this code will save you from having to include clone methods every class. It's a more convenient way of cloning that involves templates and an intermediate subclass. It's doable if the hierarchy is shallow enough.

struct PureBase {
    virtual Base* Clone() {
        return nullptr;
    };
};

template
struct Base : PureBase {
    virtual Base* Clone() {
        return new T();
    }
};

struct Derived : Base {};

int main() {
    PureBase* a = new Derived();
    PureBase* b = a->Clone(); // typeid(*b) == typeid(Derived)
}