Accessing Components of an Object

If the components are not otherwise protected, they can be accessed by using the form

reference.field

For example:

class Quantity

{

double multiplier;

StringList numerator;

StringList denominator;

....  constructors and methods for Quantity ....

}

Suppose we have declarations:

 

Quantity Q, R;

 

Access the various fields by:

Q.multiplier

R.numerator

etc.

This will work whether we are using the field's value or assigning to it.

However, this is not the preferred way of using objects.