dynamic_cast between base class and subclass : class cast « Class « C++ Tutorial

1. C++ Tutorial
2. Class
3. class cast

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
const double PI = 3.14159;

class Shape {
   public:
      virtual double area() const { return 0.0; }
};

class Circle: public Shape {
public:
   Circle( int r = 1 ) { radius = r; }

   virtual double area() const 
   { 
      return PI * radius * radius; 
   };
protected:
   int radius;
};

class Cylinder: public Circle {
public:
   Cylinder( int h = 1 ) { height = h; }

   virtual double area() const 
   {     
      return 2 * PI * radius * height + 
             2 * Circle::area();
   }
private:
   int height;
};

void outputShapeArea( const Shape * );

int main()
{
   Circle circle;
   Cylinder cylinder;
   Shape *ptr = 0;

   outputShapeArea( &circle );    
   outputShapeArea( &cylinder );  
   outputShapeArea( ptr );        
   return 0;
}

void outputShapeArea( const Shape *shapePtr )
{
   const Circle *circlePtr;
   const Cylinder *cylinderPtr;

   cylinderPtr = dynamic_cast< const Cylinder * >( shapePtr );

   if ( cylinderPtr != 0 ) 
      cout << "Cylinder's area: " << cylinderPtr->area();  
   else {  
      circlePtr = dynamic_cast< const Circle * >( shapePtr );

      if ( circlePtr != 0 )
         cout << "Circle's area: " << circlePtr->area(); 
      else
         cout << "Neither a Circle nor a Cylinder.";
   }

   cout << endl;
}