Which is correct?

[mramazing]

In C++ are member functions supposed to be called 'member functions' or 'class methods'? Just curious.

[Sebastiani]

In C++ are member functions supposed to be called 'member functions' or 'class methods'? Just curious.

The former is most commonly used, but whichever...

[mramazing]

Thank you!

[laserlight]

In C++ are member functions supposed to be called 'member functions' or 'class methods'?

You can use the term method to refer to a virtual member function.

[dwks]

"method" is a generic object-oriented term, and "member function" is a distinctly C++ term, but they mean the same thing in this context. However, the term "class method" sounds, at least from a Java perspective, like it refers to static functions (i.e. functions that can be called without this pointer, without an object to operate on).

class Something {
public:
    static void staticFunc() {}
};

int main() {
    // called without an object of type Something to operate on
    Something::staticFunc();

    return 0;
}

[laserlight]

"method" is a generic object-oriented term, and "member function" is a distinctly C++ term, but they mean the same thing in this context.

Somewhat: as I mentioned, method can be used as a C++ term to refer specifically to a virtual member function, which is really more akin to a method in a general OOP sense since you cannot override a non-virtual member function.

However, the term "class method" sounds, at least from a Java perspective, like it refers to static functions (i.e. functions that can be called without this pointer, without an object to operate on).

Agreed, though I note that "static functions" could refer to free functions that are declared static, but here the use is to refer to static member functions.

[dwks]

Somewhat: as I mentioned, method can be used as a C++ term to refer specifically to a virtual member function, which is really more akin to a method in a general OOP sense since you cannot override a non-virtual member function.

I haven't really seen that distinction made before, but it makes sense. So I guess you could define a "member function" as a function which resides inside a class, whether virtual or non-virtual or static.

Agreed, though I note that "static functions" could refer to free functions that are declared static, but here the use is to refer to static member functions.

True -- I was trying to avoid circular definitions here and so presented an example instead.

[iMalc]

In C++ are member functions supposed to be called 'member functions' or 'class methods'? Just curious.

"To-may-to, To-mah-to"