33. this Pointer

Every object in C++ has access to its own address through an important pointer called this pointer. The this pointer is an implicit parameter to all member functions. Therefore, inside a member function, this may be used to refer to the invoking object.

Friend functions do not have a this pointer, because friends are not members of a class. Only member functions have a this pointer.

In C++ programming, this is a keyword that refers to the current instance of the class. There can be 3 main usage of this keyword in C++.

• It can be used to pass current object as a parameter to another method.
• It can be used to refer current class instance variable.
• It can be used to declare indexers.

Let us try the following example to understand the concept of this pointer-

Example

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

class Box {
   public:
      // Constructor definition
      Box(double l = 2.0, double b = 2.0, double h = 2.0) {
         cout <<"Constructor called." << endl;
         length = l;
         breadth = b;
         height = h;
      }
      double Volume() {
         return length * breadth * height;
      }
      int compare(Box box) {
         return this->Volume() > box.Volume();
      }
      
   private:
      double length;     // Length of a box
      double breadth;    // Breadth of a box
      double height;     // Height of a box
};

int main(void) {
   Box Box1(3.3, 1.2, 1.5);    // Declare box1
   Box Box2(8.5, 6.0, 2.0);    // Declare box2

   if(Box1.compare(Box2)) {
      cout << "Box2 is smaller than Box1" <<endl;
   } else {
      cout << "Box2 is equal to or larger than Box1" <<endl;
   }
   
   return 0;
}

When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces the following result −

Constructor called.
Constructor called.
Box2 is equal to or larger than Box1