Friend Function in C++ with example

Friend function is basically used to access the private information about the class.

When we use friend function we should declare in the class as a friend function in the following manner.

Friend return_datatype function_name (arguments);

There are the following situations in which the friend function needed.

·        Function operating on objects of two distinct classes.

·        Friend function can be used to increase the versatility of overloaded operators.

·        Sometimes, a friend allows a more clear syntax for calling a function rather than what a member function can do.

Example:

#include<iostream.h>

#include<conio.h>

Class employee

               {

                              int id;

                              char name[20];

                              public:

                              void getdata();

                              friend void putdata();

               };

void employee :: getdata()

{

cout<<”Enter the employee id & name =”;

cin>>id>>name;    

}

void employee :: putdata(employee t)

{

               cout<<” Employee Id = ”<<t.id;

               cout<<” Employee Name = ”<<t.name;

}

void main()

{

   clrscr();

               employee e;

               e.getdata();

               putdata(e);

               getch();

}