Have I found a black hole in C++?

Here some stuff which I did in Visual Studio 2005 and CodeWarrior.
So, it's definitelly not a jsut compiler bug.

I defined class like this:

Code:

---

class A
{
public:
        virtual void B() = 0;
};

---

So, I have pure virtual method.
Sure thing, we can't instantiate class.

However, what I found I can add implementation for pure virtual method (which doesn't make any sense)

Code:

---

void A::B()
{
        printf("z");
}

---

And compiler won't say me a damn thing.
I can't instantiate it still.

However, I can do this:

Code:

---

class C: public A
{
public:
        virtual void B();
};

void C::B()
{
        A::B();
}

---

First of all I was able to compile this, where I can pure abstract method.
Second, I was able to debug it and step into A::B.

It's definitelly crazy.

Does anybody have explanation, why it works?

Quote:

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Does anybody have explanation, why it works?

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Because it is allowed, and comes in handy when you want to have a pure virtual destructor since derived class destructors will invoke base class destructors even if the latter is pure virtual. Another use is to force concrete derived classes to override the virtual function, but provide a default implementation anyway that can be used in the override (as in your example, I notice).

Quote:

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Because it is allowed, and comes in handy when you want

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Got it. It look that I even found this in C++ specification.
http://www.kuzbass.ru:8086/docs/isoc...class.abstract

-8- A virtual function declared in a class shall be defined, or declared pure (class.abstract) in that class, or both ; but no diagnostic is required (basic.def.odr).

Quote:

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to have a pure virtual destructor since derived class destructors will invoke base class destructors even if the latter is pure virtual.

Another use is to force concrete derived classes to override the virtual function, but provide a default implementation anyway that can be used in the override (as in your example, I notice).

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Generally both cases are:
1) We want derived classes to override something
2) We still want to give some default implementation.

I agree it looks this is a case.

Quote:

---

Because it is allowed, and comes in handy when you want to have a pure virtual destructor since derived class destructors will invoke base class destructors even if the latter is pure virtual. Another use is to force concrete derived classes to override the virtual function, but provide a default implementation anyway that can be used in the override (as in your example, I notice).

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The only thing, which I don't understand. Why it's done like that? I won't say that it's too handy...

On one hand, if you want function to be overriden, you may define pure virtual and other helper function, which should be used in derived classes in overriden function.

The main concern that when derived class will override such implemented virtual function compiler won't force developer to do a call of function from base class. So, anyway developer shouldn't forget to call function from base class.

Sometimes you are writing base classes as an interface that can be used to hide the inner workings of its derived classes. Given that fact, it is very handy. Especially when you may even be deriving your class from another class which has its member functions in a library or DLL where you cannot see its source. Thus you would need to explicitly call the virtual function of the parent.