Function Chaining in C++ (Call more than one function in a sequence )

Shishir191's Avatar author of Function Chaining in C++ (Call more than one function in a sequence )
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This is an article on Function Chaining in C++ (Call more than one function in a sequence ) in C++.
1) This Simple program explain one of the use of this pointer in C++.
2) With the help of "this" pointer you can call as many as functions in a sequence.
3) This procedure is called function chaining
4) In this program i have used three different function and through main i have called all these function in a sequence with the help of this pointer
Code: Cpp
#include<iostream.h>
#include<conio.h>

class Test
{
    
public:
    
    Test Display(); // Function 1
    Test Show();    // Function 2
    Test Result();  // Function 3
    
};

Test Test::Display()
{
    cout<<"Function 1"<<endl;
    return *this;  // Return this pointer
}

Test Test::Show()
{
    cout<<"Function 2"<<endl;
    return *this;
}

Test Test::Result()
{
    cout<<"Result 3"<<endl;
    return *this;
}

void main()
{
    Test Obj;
    
    //Here i have called all the three function in a sequence.
    
    Obj.Display().Show().Result(); //This is called Function Chaining
    
    getch();
}
Go4Expert Member
28Jul2007,13:26   #2
oleber's Avatar
You need to return a reference , otherwise you are doing a copy of the object .
Try to add the method:

Code: CPP
Test::Test(Test& test) {
    cout<<"Test::Test(Test& test)\n";
}

Better shall be:

Code: CPP
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;Correct should be:
class Test
{
    
public:
    Test() {};
    Test(Test& test);
    Test& Display(); // Function 1
    Test& Show();    // Function 2
    Test& Result();  // Function 3
};

Test::Test(Test& test) {
    cout<<"Test::Test(Test& test)\n";
}

Test& Test::Display()
{
    cout<<"Function 1"<<endl;
    return *this;  // Return this pointer
}

Test& Test::Show()
{
    cout<<"Function 2"<<endl;
    return *this;
}

Test& Test::Result()
{
    cout<<"Result 3"<<endl;
    return *this;
}

int main()
{
    Test Obj;
    
    //Here i have called all the three function in a sequence.    
    Obj.Display().Show().Result(); //This is called Function Chaining
}
Go4Expert Member
28Jul2007,17:13   #3
Shishir191's Avatar
Yes, You are right. Thanks for your suggestion and reply.