Consider the behavior of default arguments combined with virtual function overrides:

cpp class BaseClass { public: virtual void DisplayValue(int val = 10); };

void BaseClass::DisplayValue(int val) { std::cout << "BaseClass::DisplayValue, val = " << val << std::endl; }

class DerivedClass : public BaseClass { public: void DisplayValue(int val = 20) override; };

void DerivedClass::DisplayValue(int val) { std::cout << "DerivedClass::DisplayValue, val = " << val << std::endl; }

Execution scenarios:

cpp DerivedClass derivedObj; BaseClass* basePtr = (BaseClass*)&derivedObj;

basePtr->DisplayValue(); (*basePtr).DisplayValue(); derivedObj.DisplayValue(); ((BaseClass)derivedObj).DisplayValue();

Compiler implementation details reveal distinct binding mechanisms to these cals:

1. Direct Object Invocation (derivedObj.DisplayValue()): The compiler resolves the target function address at compile time, resulting in static binding. The call is directly hardcoded to DerivedClass::DisplayValue() without traversing the vtable.

2. Pointer and Dereferenced Pointer Invocation (basePtr->DisplayValue() and (*basePtr).DisplayValue()): Both invoke dynamic binding. The generated assembly retrieves the vtable pointer from the object's memory, locates the appropriate function slot, and performs an indirect call. The runtime type of the object dictates which implementation exceutes.

3. Object Slicing via Cast (((BaseClass)derivedObj).DisplayValue()): This cast triggers object slicing. A completely new, temporary BaseClass instance is constructed using the base class copy constructor. Durring the execution of this copy constructor, the vptr of the new object is explicitly set to BaseClass::vftable, overwriting the original DerivedClass vptr. Consequently, the dynamic dispatch resolves to BaseClass::DisplayValue. Modifying members within this temporary sliced object affects only the temporary copy and leaves the original derivedObj unaltered.