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I am trying to implement my own 'User' class from an external C++ file. Therefore, I created a User.h, User.cpp and main.cpp file which are all in the same directory. Here you can see the source code of each file:

./User.h

#include <string>

class User {
    public:
        User(std::string username, std::string password);
        std::string getPassword();
        std::string username;

    private:
        std::string password;
};

./User.cpp

#include "User.h"

User::User(std::string username, std::string password) {
    this -> username = username;
    this -> password = password;
}
std::string User::getPassword() {
    return password;
}

./main.cpp

#include <iostream>
#include "User.h"

int main() {
    User eve("Eve3033", "Pass1234");
    std::cout << eve.getPassword();
    return 0;
}

The g++ compiler error:

undefined reference to `User::User(std::\__cxx11::basic_string\<char, std::char_traits\<char\>, std::allocator\<char\> \>, std::\__cxx11::basic_string\<char, std::char_traits\<char\>, std::allocator\<char\> \>)'
C:\\Users\\wise-\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\ccQgLvm9.o:main.cpp:(.text+0xb8): undefined reference to `User::getPassword[abi:cxx11]()' collect2.exe: error: ld returned 1 exit status

I tried to remove the std::string User::getPassword() method, which didn't result in any compiling errors. The construction of the User eve("Eve3033", "Pass1234") instance was also successfull and I was able to access the public std::string username attribute.

However, when I tried to implement the std::string User::getPassword() method to also access the private std:string password attribute, g++ returned the same error.

I searched for the error online and found the following links:

I hope you have any ideas on that problem :)

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    Please show the commands you used to compile your project, not just the output. – jxh Jan 23 '23 at 21:00
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    My first guess is that User.cpp wasn't included in the g++ command. – Logicrat Jan 23 '23 at 21:05
  • If you are using VSCode remember that by default it builds only the active file. The documentation explains that and tells you how to modify your `tasks.json` when you have more than 1 source file. – drescherjm Jan 23 '23 at 21:15
  • ***Therefore, I created a User.h, User.cpp and main.cpp file which are all in the same directory.*** The location is not the absolute determining factor. What matters is how you are compiling. – drescherjm Jan 23 '23 at 21:15

1 Answers1

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Your error must be due to a syntax error or missing file in your command. Compiling this code in VS works just fine, and has the expected output. Make sure you have: g++ main.cpp user.cpp

If you need more context and examples, see here.

agile_flow
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