Is a member function virtual by default?

Question

I am reading about classes in Python and encountered the following statement:

In C++ terminology, normally class members (including the data members) are public (except see below Private Variables), and all member functions are virtual.

I have never heard this, is it true? I tried doing some research, but I only found articles explaining when to make a function virtual and what virtual means.

Read this: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2391679/why-do-we-need-virtual-functions-in-c — Stefan Falk, Oct 12 '17 at 06:41
I think the quote has itself confused, it is not true, certainly not true that data members are public in a class! — arynaq, Oct 12 '17 at 06:42
This is a statement about Python, not about C++. It is of course false when applied to C++. — n. 1.8e9-where's-my-share m., Oct 12 '17 at 06:42
Doesn't it mean "if you want to do the same thing in C++ as Python, you need to make all the member function public and virtual." ? — songyuanyao, Oct 12 '17 at 06:44
Yes, it is a statement about Python expressed in C++ terminology. Your Python course doesn't attempt to teach you C++. It teaches you Python. It explains how Python behaves, using vocabulary you might know from C++. — n. 1.8e9-where's-my-share m., Oct 12 '17 at 06:51

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 12 '17 at 06:48

2

This is a statement about python. It is saying to a person who knows C++, that python classes have public members and virtual functions.

So the statement is true, but slightly out of context.

answered Oct 12 '17 at 06:48

mksteve

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Is a member function virtual by default?

1 Answers1