KITFORMA · EDITORIAL GUIDE
Why does storing Derived values in vector<Base> lose derived behavior?
KitForma editorial guide. A by-value Base element contains only the base subobject copied from a derived value. The derived portion is not stored invisibly alongside it.
Step-by-step guidance
A by-value Base element contains only the base subobject copied from a derived value. The derived portion is not stored invisibly alongside it.
If heterogeneous dynamic behavior is required, use explicit polymorphic ownership, for example a vector of unique_ptr<Base> with an appropriate base destructor. If the set of alternatives is closed, a variant-based design may be more suitable. Keep ordinary values when slicing is actually the intended projection.
Test a derived-specific operation through the final container interface. A virtual method cannot restore state already sliced away. Avoid constructing a shared_ptr merely to hide the issue when exclusive ownership would express the model more accurately.
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