C++ 入门：结构体和类的区别

类的特点：

1. 类（class）可以包含很多可以被调用的函数（functions）
2. 类中除非用public修饰，否则它的成员变量和成员方法对外是不可见的
3. 类中有一对特殊的函数，构造函数（constructor）和析构函数（destructor），它们在对象被创建和销毁时会自动调用。而结构体中没有。
4. 类可以使用特殊方法（成员方法）定义处理新数据类型的操作符
5. 类可以被用作定义其它类的基类（继承）
6. 声明一个新类型的变量（一个类的实例，即一个对象）只需要类名即可，并不需要class关键字

在c++中，结构体和类之间的唯一区别是成员变量和成员方法默认的可访问性。在结构体中，它们是public的; 在class中它们是private的。

英文原版：

How does a C++ class differ from a C struct? There are a few differences. The key ones are:

• A class can also contain functions [called methods].
• The member variables and methods are hidden from the outside world, unless their declaration follows a public label.
• There can be a pair of special methods – the constructor and destructor – that are run automatically when an instance of the class [an object] is created and destroyed.
• Operators to work on the new data type can be defined using special methods [member functions].
• One class can be used as the basis for the definition of another [inheritance].
• Declaring a variable of the new type [an instance of the class; an object] requires just the name of the class – the keyword class is not required.

But what about a struct in C++? The last example here gives a clue. The only difference between a struct and class in C++ is the default accessibility of member variables and methods. In a struct they are public; in a class they are private.