Sams Teach Yourself C++ in 24 Hours, Third Edition

Q&A

Q1:	How big is a class object?
A1:	A class object's size in memory is determined by the sum of the sizes of its member variables. Class methods don't take up room as part of the memory set aside for the object. Some compilers align variables in memory in such a way that 2-byte variables actually consume somewhat more than 2 bytes. Check your compiler manual to be sure, but at this point there is no reason to be concerned with these details.
Q2:	Why shouldn't I make all the member data public?
A2:	Making member data private enables the client of the class to use the data without worrying about how it is stored or computed. For example, if the Cat class has a method GetAge(), clients of the Cat class can ask for the cat's age without knowing or ...