c++ using declaration, scope and access control

Question

Typically the \'using\' declaration is used to bring into scope some member functions of base classes that would otherwise be hidden. From that point of view it is only a me

Answer 1

While the using declaration you showed does provide a mechanism to change access level (but only down), that is not the primary use of it in such a context. A using context there is primarily intended to allow access to functions that would otherwise be shadowed from the base class due to the language mechanics. E.g.

class A {
public:
   void A();
   void B();
};

class B {
public:
   using A::B;
   void B(int); //This would shadow A::B if not for a using declaration
};