How to access a dynamic object property not using getter method?

Question

#include <iostream>

class SomeClass
{
 public: int *SomeNumber;

 SomeClass() { SomeNumber = new int; *SomeNumber = 5; }

 ~SomeClass() { delete SomeNumber; }
 int getSomeNumber(void) { return *SomeNumber; }

};

int main()
{

SomeClass A;
std:: cout << A.getSomeNumber() << std::endl; // outputs 5
std:: cout << A.SomeNumber << std::endl; // outputs SomeNumber address

return 0;
}

How can I get *SomeNumber, not its address, by not using the method getSomeNumber()? If SomeNumber were not a pointer to a int, I could get it with A.SomeNumber

Sorry If I were not clear enough. Thanks in advance.

You are missing an assignment operator and copy constructor. — pmr, Jan 15 '12 at 18:51
@pmr: And a copy constructor. See [The Rule of Three](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4172722/what-is-the-rule-of-three). — sbi, Jan 15 '12 at 18:54
@pmr: Darn! Did I really post this within your 5mins edit period? I fell for a stupid beginner's prank... `:)` — sbi, Jan 15 '12 at 19:33

score 6 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 15 '12 at 18:42

6

Simple:

*A.SomeNumber

It works because . has higher precedence than *, so it's the same as

*(A.SomeNumber)

answered Jan 15 '12 at 18:42

Thomas

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score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 15 '12 at 18:43

1

Can't you just do:

std:: cout << (*A.SomeNumber) << std::endl;

answered Jan 15 '12 at 18:43

Cyclonecode

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score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 15 '12 at 18:45

0

Avoid making your properties public!!!!

You could use visitor design pattern instead of this code like:

class SomeClass
{
 public: int *SomeNumber;

 SomeClass() { SomeNumber = new int; *SomeNumber = 5; }

 void visit( IVisitor* visitor ){ visitor->doSomething(*SomeNumber);}

 ~SomeClass() { delete SomeNumber; }
 int getSomeNumber(void) { return *SomeNumber; }

};

IVisitor is an interface you can implement it and anything you want.

answered Jan 15 '12 at 18:45

AlexTheo

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Maybe this toy example needs a SomeNumberFactory too, and a Decorator, and a dependency injection framework! – Thomas Jan 15 '12 at 18:46
I am pretty sure that public member is a bad chose in any case. – AlexTheo Jan 15 '12 at 18:47
@Thomas: You're forgetting an abstract wrapper and multiple dispatch. Call yourself a software developer... – Kerrek SB Jan 15 '12 at 18:50
getter setters are bad chose too. – AlexTheo Jan 15 '12 at 18:50

How to access a dynamic object property not using getter method?

3 Answers3