---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Defining OO as based on the use of class…"
description: "\"Defining OO as based on the use of class hierarchies and virtual functions is also practical in that it provides some guidance as to where OO is likely..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68b/bjarne-stroustrup-11774_being-successful_defining-oo-as-based-on-the-use-of-class_2946993.jpg"
---

#  Defining OO as based on the use of class hierarchies and…

![“Defining OO as based on the use of class hierarchies and virtual functions is also practical in that it provides some guidance as to where OO is likely to be successful” quote by Bjarne Stroustrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68b/bjarne-stroustrup-11774_being-successful_defining-oo-as-based-on-the-use-of-class_2946993.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68b/bjarne-stroustrup-11774_being-successful_defining-oo-as-based-on-the-use-of-class_2946993.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68b/bjarne-stroustrup-11774_being-successful_defining-oo-as-based-on-the-use-of-class_2946993.jpg)

> “Defining OO as based on the use of class hierarchies and virtual functions is also practical in that it provides some guidance as to where OO is likely to be successful”

[Bjarne Stroustrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bjarne-stroustrup/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Object‑oriented design works best when it follows class hierarchies and virtual functions, offering clear guidance on suitable problems.

**In simple terms:** OO works well with class hierarchies and virtual functions.

Key Takeaway

Use class hierarchies and virtual functions to guide OO design.

Themes

software design object‑orientation guidance

Mood

technical educational

Type

programming design philosophy

When to use this quote

- large codebases
- framework development
- API design

Key Concepts

inheritance polymorphism design patterns

Questions to Reflect On

- When should you avoid OO hierarchies?
- How do virtual functions impact performance?

A Different Perspective

May limit flexibility in languages lacking strong OO support.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Being successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-successful/) [Class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class/) [Class Hierarchies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/class-hierarchies-4422384/) [Defining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defining/) [Defining Oo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defining-oo-4422382/) [Function](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/function/) [Guidance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guidance/) [Hierarchies Virtual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hierarchies-virtual-4422385/) [Hierarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hierarchy/) [Oo Based](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oo-based-4422383/) [Oo Likely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oo-likely-4422386/) [Practicals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practicals/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/)

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