From the fundamental data types other types can be derived by using declaration operators. This article briefly introduces the derived data types in C++. You can find a detailed explanation of all these types on our site.

 

DERIVED DATA TYPES IN C/C++

 

Arrays 

 Arrays refer to a named list of a finite number of similar data elements.

General syntax :

data_type array_name [size];

where data_type is the type of values array will store, array_name is the name of array and size is an integer denoting the number of elements in the array.

The elements of array can be accessed as :

array_name[index];

where, index is an integer denoting the position of that element.


Important points on Arrays :

1.     An array consists of elements of same data type. If it is an integer array it will store only integer elements. Character array will store only character elements and so on.

2.    Arrays are allocated contagious memory address which makes them faster and easier to execute.

3.    Indexing starts with number 0 and continues till size-1.

4.    Trying to reference an index out of the bounds [0, size-1] causes crashing of program.

5.    Arrays are not initialized by default. Uninitialized arrays contain arbitrary garbage values.

6.    Arrays can be multi-dimensional.

 

Functions

A function is a named part of a program that can be invoked from other parts of the program as often as needed. A function is usually useful when we want to use a certain set code many times in a program. It would be a tiring and boring job to write the same set of statements over and over again. Instead, a programmer creates a function consisting of those codes so that he might easily use it whenever he needs it in his program.

General syntax for a function is :

return_type function_name (formal_parameter_list)

{

/* body of the function */

/*return statement, if needed */

}


Read more >> Functions in C++


Pointer 

A pointer variable is a variable that holds a memory address. This address is usually the location of another variable in the memory. If one variable contains the address of another variable, the first variable is said to point to the second variable.

If a variable is going to hold a pointer, it must be declared as such. A pointer declaration consists of a base type, an * (asterisk), and the variable name.

General syntax :

data_type * pointer_name ;

where data_type is any valid C++ data type.

The base type (i.e. data_type) of the pointer determines what type of values the pointer can point to. Technically any pointer can point anywhere in the memory but the pointer arithmetic is done according to the base type so it becomes compulsory to declare pointers with correct base types.

Read more >> Pointers in C++

 

Reference 

A reference is an alternative name for an object. A reference variable provides an alias for a previously defined variable. A reference declaration consists of a base type, an & (ampersand), a reference variable name equated to a variable (previously defined).

General syntax :

data_type & ref_var_name = variable_name ;

where data_type must be same data type as that of the variable variable_name.

A reference variable does not create a new variable and so does not take space in memory. It’s simply another name given to a variable. You can understand it by taking the example of your actual name and all other names that your family members or friends have given you. Whatever be the name, it means only one individual in the real world. This is exactly the case with reference variables.

 

Const 

The keyword const can be added to the declaration of an object to make that object a constant rather than a variable. Thus, the value of that variable (called named constant) cannot be altered during the program run.

General syntax :

const data_type variable_name = value ;

Note : A constant variable cannot remain uninitialized. It becomes mandatory to initialize the variable with a value at the time of declaration only. For example, the following code will give error :

const int a;

a=54;

 

Read more >> 

Primitive Datatypes

User-defined Datatypes 

 

 

 

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