Question

Define a struct, carType, to store the following data about a car: Manufacturer (string), model (string), model type (string), color (string), number of doors (int), miles per gallon in city (int), miles per gallon on highway \((\text { int })\), year when the car was built \((\text { int }),\) and the price (double).

Short answer

Struct carType is defined with string, int, and double attributes.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Structure's Purpose

A 'struct' in programming is used to group different types of data under one name. In this case, we are creating a struct called 'carType' to represent various attributes of a car, including strings, integers, and double data types.

Define the Struct

Start by declaring the struct using the 'struct' keyword, followed by giving it a name, 'carType'. Within curly braces, declare variables for each attribute of the car with appropriate data types (e.g., 'string' for text attributes and 'int' or 'double' for numerical attributes).

Declare String Attributes

Inside the 'carType' struct, define the string attributes: Manufacturer, model, model type, and color. Each of these will be declared as a 'string' type, e.g., 'string Manufacturer;'. Write each declaration on a new line.

Declare Integer and Double Attributes

Continue defining the 'carType' struct by adding integer attributes: 'numberOfDoors', 'mpgCity', 'mpgHighway', and 'yearBuilt', and a double attribute 'price'. Each integer will be declared using 'int' and the double with 'double', e.g., 'int numberOfDoors;'. These declarations should also each be on their own lines.

Terminate the Struct Declaration

End the struct definition with a closing curly brace followed by a semicolon. This syntactically completes the struct definition.

Key concepts

Data Structures

Data structures are essential building blocks in programming, designed to group and organize data for efficient use and storage. They allow programmers to manage and interact with data effectively.

• A data structure defines how data is stored, organized, and accessed.
• They come in various types, such as arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, etc.
• Choosing an appropriate data structure can greatly affect the performance and simplicity of a program.

By using the right data structure, a programmer can solve complex problems more easily and efficiently. For example, in C++, structs are a simple yet powerful way to group different data types together.

C++ Programming

C++ is a popular programming language known for its performance, efficiency, and the flexibility it offers to developers. It is widely used for system/application software, game development, and real-time simulation software.

• It supports both procedural and object-oriented programming paradigms.
• C++ comes with rich libraries, allowing developers to create complex programs with ease.
• It enables direct manipulation of hardware resources, making it ideal for performance-critical applications.

One of its core features is the ability to use structures, which can encapsulate a group of different data types under a single name. This allows for clean, organized, and efficient code.

carType Struct

The 'carType' struct is a custom data structure defined in C++ to represent a car's properties. It organizes related data into one manageable entity, simplifying the handling of car information in a program. When defining the 'carType' struct, you'll need to:

• Use the 'struct' keyword followed by the name 'carType'.
• Declare the attributes within curly braces, specifying the type and name of each attribute.
• A semicolon must conclude the struct's definition.

By creating a 'carType' struct, you harness the power of C++ to manage detailed car data efficiently and systematically, allowing all the relevant details about a car to be gathered in one place.

Attribute Definition in Structs

Attributes in a struct are akin to fields or properties in other programming languages, providing details about the entity the struct represents. In the 'carType' struct, attributes include Manufacturer, model, model type, color, number of doors, mpgCity, mpgHighway, yearBuilt, and price. Each attribute in a C++ struct is specified with a

• data type, such as 'string', 'int', or 'double', defining the kind of data a variable can hold,
• followed by a descriptive name, like 'Manufacturer' or 'numberOfDoors'.

In the case of 'carType', each attribute should be on a new line, ending with a semicolon. This clarity in definition helps in maintaining the integrity of data and ensures that each attribute is used consistently across the program.