A friend function can be used to
2014
A friend function can be used to
- A.
avoid arguments between classes.
- B.
allow access to classes whose source code is unavailable.
- C.
allow one class to access an unrelated class.
- D.
None of the above
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Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Answer: allow one class to access an unrelated class.
Explanation: A friend function or a friend class is explicitly granted by a class to access that class's private and protected members. This allows a non-member function or an unrelated class to work with the internals of the declaring class when necessary.
How friendship is granted: the class that wants to allow access declares the function or class as a friend.
Friendship applies only as declared: it is not inherited or automatically reciprocal.
Common uses: operator overloading, helper functions, or tightly coupled classes that need direct access to internal representation.
Encapsulation note: use friendship sparingly because it breaks strict encapsulation; the declaring class controls who is granted access.
Key takeaway: friend relationships allow explicit access to another class's internals and are declared by the class whose members are being accessed.