override specifier

Specifies that a virtual function overrides another virtual function.

Syntax

The identifier override, if used, appears immediately after the declarator in the syntax of a member function declaration or a member function definition.

In both cases, virt-specifier-seq, if used, is either override or final, or final override or override final.

Explanation

In a member function declaration or definition, override ensures that the function is virtual and is overriding a virtual function from the base class. The program is ill-formed (a compile-time error is generated) if this is not true.

override is an identifier with a special meaning when used after member function declarators: it's not a reserved keyword otherwise.

Example

struct A
{
    virtual void foo();
    void bar();
};
 
struct B : A
{
    void foo() const override; // Error: B::foo does not override A::foo
                               // (signature mismatch)
    void foo() override; // OK: B::foo overrides A::foo
    void bar() override; // Error: A::bar is not virtual
};

See also

• final specifier (since C++11)