Thread: WARNING NOOB ALERT! Linked List Node get set

Okay so i'm gonna start with the old cliche "I'm new to C++...", I dont understand the use of the getNext() setNext() etc functions i am supposed to implement in my ListNode.cpp file..

Code:

class ListNode{
    private:
        Person* data;
        ListNode* next;
    
    public:
        ListNode* getNext();
        void setNext(ListNode* n);
        Person* getData();
        void setData(Person* p);
}

I am trying to create a chained hash table implementing a singly linked list, I thought i could just use pointers in the LinkedList.cpp implementation to minipulate the nodes and their data when adding and deleting?? Or have i got this all backwards and the get and set methods are something else entirely??

I'm sorry if this is a silly question, im still trying to understand a lot of these concepts. If I have left out anything feel free to ask..

Thanks

Looking at my code again there.. The thought occurred that the data and next pointer that are stored in my ListNode class are PRIVATE, i could be wrong but does this mean they can only be accessed by the PUBLIC functions of that class? If so i think i 'might' know where i got confused.. The get and set have to be used in order to access these values?

Like i said anyone can feel free to jump in and save me if they wish haha

Yeah, the privatization of variables in a class or struct in C++ means that only member functions of that class have access to those variables. This is where the concept of getters and setters comes into play. By exposing public functions, you're creating an interface that controls how the data is interacted with. This can oftentimes make it more difficult to the wrong thing.

I'm also not completely sure what you're asking but I'm happy that you're the first person I've seen in a while to actually be making a C++-style linked list.

Originally Posted by MutantJohn

Yeah, the privatization of variables in a class or struct in C++ means that only member functions of that class have access to those variables. This is where the concept of getters and setters comes into play. By exposing public functions, you're creating an interface that controls how the data is interacted with. This can oftentimes make it more difficult to the wrong thing.

I'm also not completely sure what you're asking but I'm happy that you're the first person I've seen in a while to actually be making a C++-style linked list.

Thank you, appreciate the help! Yeah i'm not even sure i know what i'm asking some times to be honest haha... Practice makes perfect i guess (or at least a little less hopeless).