Explicit Overrides (C++/CLI and C++/CX)

This topic discusses how to explicitly override a member of a base class or interface. A named (explicit) override should only be used to override a method with a derived method that has a different name.

All Runtimes

Syntax

overriding-function-declarator = type::function [,type::function] { overriding-function-definition }
overriding-function-declarator = function { overriding-function-definition }

Parameters

overriding-function-declarator
The return type, name, and argument list of the overriding function. Note that the overriding function does not have to have the same name as the function being overridden.

type
The base type that contains a function to override.

function
A comma-delimited list of one or more function names to override.

overriding-function-definition
The function body statements that define the overriding function.

Remarks

Use explicit overrides to create an alias for a method signature, or to provide different implementations for methods with the same signature.

For information about modifying the behavior of inherited types and inherited type members, see Override Specifiers.

Windows Runtime

Requirements

Compiler option: /ZW

Common Language Runtime

Remarks

For information about explicit overrides in native code or code compiled with /clr:oldSyntax, see Explicit Overrides.

Requirements

Compiler option: /clr

Examples

The following code example shows a simple, implicit override and implementation of a member in a base interface, not using explicit overrides.

// explicit_override_1.cpp
// compile with: /clr
interface struct I1 {
   virtual void f();
};

ref class X : public I1 {
public:
   virtual void f() {
      System::Console::WriteLine("X::f override of I1::f");
   }
};

int main() {
   I1 ^ MyI = gcnew X;
   MyI -> f();
}

X::f override of I1::f

The following code example shows how to implement all interface members with a common signature, using explicit override syntax.

// explicit_override_2.cpp
// compile with: /clr
interface struct I1 {
   virtual void f();
};

interface struct I2 {
   virtual void f();
};

ref struct X : public I1, I2 {
   virtual void f() = I1::f, I2::f {
      System::Console::WriteLine("X::f override of I1::f and I2::f");
   }
};

int main() {
   I1 ^ MyI = gcnew X;
   I2 ^ MyI2 = gcnew X;
   MyI -> f();
   MyI2 -> f();
}

X::f override of I1::f and I2::f
X::f override of I1::f and I2::f

The following code example shows how a function override can have a different name from the function it is implementing.

// explicit_override_3.cpp
// compile with: /clr
interface struct I1 {
   virtual void f();
};

ref class X : public I1 {
public:
   virtual void g() = I1::f {
      System::Console::WriteLine("X::g");
   }
};

int main() {
   I1 ^ a = gcnew X;
   a->f();
}

X::g

The following code example shows an explicit interface implementation that implements a type safe collection.

// explicit_override_4.cpp
// compile with: /clr /LD
using namespace System;
ref class R : ICloneable {
   int X;

   virtual Object^ C() sealed = ICloneable::Clone {
      return this->Clone();
   }

public:
   R() : X(0) {}
   R(int x) : X(x) {}

   virtual R^ Clone() {
      R^ r = gcnew R;
      r->X = this->X;
      return r;
   }
};

See also

Component Extensions for .NET and UWP