Can virtual functions be static?

Can virtual functions be static in C++?

No, virtual functions cannot be static. Virtual functions are meant to be overridden in derived classes, while static functions belong to the class itself.

What happens if I try to declare a static virtual function?

If you try to declare a static virtual function, the compiler will throw an error because the two concepts are fundamentally incompatible.

Are there any alternatives to achieve similar behavior?

You can use static member functions for class-level operations, but for polymorphic behavior, stick to non-static virtual functions.

Can you give an example of a virtual function?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

class Base {
public:
    virtual void show() { cout << "Base class"; }
};
class Derived : public Base {
public:
    void show() override { cout << "Derived class"; }
};