Introduction to C++ Dynamic Binding and User Defined Type Conversions

CS202 4- ‹#›

Example of a Dynamic Cast

student s;

account* pa = &s;

student* ps;

ps = dynamic_cast<student*>(pa); //result is valid

savings i;

pa = &i;

ps = dynamic_cast<student*>(pa); //result is a zero

nThe dynamic_cast operator relies on the dynamic type information stored in the object pointed to.

nUnlike static_cast, the dynamic_cast operator provides a safe downcast mechanism by returning a zero pointer if the object pointed to is not in the hierarchy of the type being cast to.

nIf it is, a valid pointer is returned.