C++: using a base class as the implementation of an interface

Question

In C++ is it possible to use another base class to provide the implementation of an interface (i.e. abstract base class) in a derived class?

class Base
{
          


        

Answer 1

If Base isn't derived from Interface, then you'll have to have forwarding calls in Derived. It's only "overhead" in the sense that you have to write extra code. I suspect the optimizer will make it as efficient as if your original idea had worked.

class Interface {
    public:
        virtual void myfunction() = 0;
};

class Base {
    public:
        virtual void myfunction() {/*...*/}
};

class Derived : public Interface, public Base {
    public:
        void myfunction() { Base::myfunction(); }  // forwarding call
};

int main() {
   Derived d;
   d.myfunction();
   return 0;
}