Creating and Using Objects

Assuming that we have the class animal, we can define some variables that can be used to store animals. Remember that the class is also a data type. We can also create some animals to put in those variables. To create an animal, we use the syntax *classname*(), i e the name of the class followed by a pair of parentheses.

animal some_animal;
some_animal = animal();
animal my_dog = animal();

To access a member variable in an object, we use the syntax *object-expression*->*variable-name*, i e the object followed by the operator -> followed by the name of the variable.

my_dog->name = "Fido";
my_dog->weight = 10.0;
some_animal->name = "Glorbie";
write("My dog is called " + my_dog->name + ".\n");
write("Its weight is " + my_dog->weight + ".\n");
write("That animal is called " + some_animal->name + ".\n");

Most objects need some initial values for its member variables. For example, every animal needs a name and a weight. One way to handle this is to set those variables separately, as we have done above. A better way is to design the class in a way that lets it set the variables immediately when an object is cloned from the class. You can then give the values when cloning:

animal piglet = animal("Piglet", 6.3);

We can call a method in an object, with a similar “->“ syntax:

my_dog->eat("quiche"); // Real dogs eat quiche.
write("Its weight is now " + my_dog->weight + ".\n");