Which situation will use clone in C++ and how to use it?

Question

What is the difference between virtual clone and clone? I find the following example, it clone derived to base, what is it for?

class Base{
public:
    virtual B         


        

Answer 1

Consider this:

Base * b = get_a_base_object_somehow();

// now, b might be of type Base, or Derived, or something else derived from Base

Base * c = b->clone();

// Now, c will be of the same type as b was, and you were able to copy it without knowing its type. That's what clone methods are good for.

Answer 2

Consider this:

Base* p1 = &der;
Base* p2 = p1->clone()
p2->printme();

If clone() is not virtual, the result will be "love mandy 3". If it is virtual, the result will be "derived love mandy 3".