IT-304 Object Oriented Programming and Methodology - Dec 2023 Question Paper

Under each question, How to answer lists the points an answer should cover, outlined by CampusPrep from the syllabus. Check the details against your textbook.

1. 7 Marks
   aWhat are the different features of Object Oriented programming? How C++ is different for C language?
   How to answer

   • List key OOP features: Abstraction, Encapsulation, Inheritance, Polymorphism, Class & Object
   • Briefly describe each feature
   • Compare C and C++: procedural vs object-oriented, bottom-up vs top-down approach, support for classes, function overloading, namespaces, memory management (malloc/free vs new/delete)
2. 7 Marks
   bExplain with examples of different types of inheritance. Why multiple inheritance can induce complexity in the program?
   How to answer

   • Define inheritance and its primary advantages
   • Explain types of inheritance: Single, Multiple, Multilevel, Hierarchical, Hybrid with syntax/examples
   • Explain the Diamond problem (ambiguity) in multiple inheritance
   • Describe how virtual base classes resolve multiple inheritance ambiguity in C++
3. 7 Marks
   aExplain the purpose of the constructor in C++. Demonstrate calling one constructor from another in the case of constructor overloading.
   How to answer

   • Define constructor and state its purpose (automatic initialization of data members on object creation)
   • Explain constructor overloading (multiple constructors with different parameter signatures)
   • Demonstrate constructor delegation (C++11 target constructor syntax `ClassName(...) : ClassName(...)`) with a complete code snippet
   • Explain the execution flow when delegating
4. 7 Marks
   bExplain operator overloading using some unary operator. Also, discuss pros and cons of it.
   How to answer

   • Define operator overloading and its purpose
   • Explain overloading of a unary operator (e.g., ++ or -) with syntax and code snippet
   • Contrast member function vs friend function implementation
   • List pros: intuitive syntax, code readability, seamless user-defined types integration
   • List cons: potential misuse leading to confusing code, performance overhead, inability to define new operators
5. 7 Marks
   aExplain any two ways through which we can give input in C++ program.
   How to answer

   • Identify two methods: e.g., standard input using `cin >>` and string line input using `getline(cin, str)` or `cin.getline()` (or command-line arguments `argc`/`argv`)
   • Provide syntax and a small code example for each method
   • Discuss limitations or handling of whitespace/delimiters for both
6. 7 Marks
   bHow structures are different from class? Illustrate it with a program.
   How to answer

   • Highlight primary difference: default access specifier is public in `struct` and private in `class`
   • Mention default inheritance: public for `struct` and private for `class`
   • Provide a C++ program showing error or behavior when accessing members declared without access specifier in both `struct` and `class`
7. 7 Marks
   aCompare structure with class with an example.
   How to answer

   • Tabular comparison between structure and class
   • Explain default public vs default private member access
   • Provide a simple code example contrasting instantiation and member access
8. 7 Marks
   bExplain the concept of new and delete in memory management concept.
   How to answer

   • Define dynamic memory allocation in C++
   • Explain `new` operator: syntax, allocating single variables and arrays, calling constructor
   • Explain `delete` and `delete[]` operators: syntax, releasing memory, calling destructor
   • Discuss advantages over C's `malloc` and `free`
9. 14 Marks
   Differentiate among the following with an example:

   1. i)Abstract and non-abstract classes
   2. ii)Runtime and compile-time polymorphism
   How to answer

   • Part (i): Define abstract class (contains at least one pure virtual function, cannot instantiate directly) vs non-abstract/concrete class. Provide illustrative code example.
   • Part (ii): Define compile-time polymorphism (early/static binding, achieved via function/operator overloading) vs runtime polymorphism (late/dynamic binding, achieved via virtual functions). Provide code example demonstrating dynamic dispatch.
10. 7 Marks
    aExplain different keywords used for handling exceptions at run time.
    How to answer

    • Explain exception handling concept in C++
    • Describe keyword `try`: encloses the code that might throw an exception
    • Describe keyword `throw`: used to signal the occurrence of an anomaly/exception
    • Describe keyword `catch`: block that handles the exception thrown by `try`
    • Provide syntax and a small code example showing try-throw-catch block
11. 7 Marks
    bDiscuss following functions:

    1. i)Virtual functions
    2. ii)Pure functions
    3. iii)Friend functions
    4. iv)Static functions
    How to answer

    • i) Virtual functions: member functions in base class marked `virtual` enabling runtime polymorphism via vtable/vptr.
    • ii) Pure virtual functions: virtual function with no implementation in base class (`= 0`), making the class abstract.
    • iii) Friend functions: non-member functions granted access to private and protected members of a class using keyword `friend`.
    • iv) Static member functions: class-level functions that can access only static data members, callable using `ClassName::functionName()`.
12. 7 Marks
    aWrite a programme in C++ that demonstrates how to use inline member functions and publish it? Discuss both the similarities and differences between macros and inline functions as well.
    How to answer

    • Write a C++ program defining an inline member function (either defined inside the class body or with `inline` keyword outside)
    • Explain how the compiler substitutes code at the call site
    • Similarities: both reduce function call overhead by code substitution
    • Differences: macros expanded by preprocessor without type checking; inline functions expanded by compiler with strict type and scope checking, safe evaluation of arguments
13. 7 Marks
    bDiscuss how C++ deals with memory management? Show an example of clearing a memory used by an object.
    How to answer

    • Explain C++ memory architecture: stack (automatic), heap (dynamic), and global/static segments
    • Explain manual memory management using `new` and `delete` operators
    • Explain the role of destructors in releasing resources (RAII concept)
    • Provide a C++ program creating an object dynamically and deallocating it with `delete`, highlighting the destructor call
14. 14 Marks
    Explain the following with an example:

    1. a)File I/O
    2. b)Debugging pointer
    How to answer

    • Part (a): Explain File I/O in C++ using `fstream` library (`ofstream`, `ifstream`), showing file open/read/write/close with code snippet.
    • Part (b): Explain debugging pointers: common pointer errors (dangling pointers, memory leaks, null pointer dereference, wild pointers) and techniques/best practices to debug and fix them (setting pointers to `nullptr`, assertions, smart pointers).