virtual
Syntax:
  virtual return-type name( parameter-list );
  virtual return-type name( parameter-list ) = 0;

The virtual keyword can be used to create virtual functions, which can be overridden by derived classes.

  • A virtual function indicates that a function can be overridden in a subclass, and that the overridden function will actually be used.
  • When a base object pointer points to a derived object that contains a virtual function, the decision about which version of that function to call is based on the type of object pointed to by the pointer, and this process happens at runtime.
  • A base object can point to different derived objects and have different versions of the virtual function run.

If the function is specified as a pure virtual function (denoted by the = 0), it must be overridden by a derived class.