Question

It is considered good programming practice to store the declaration for a class, its function definitions, and the client program that uses the class in __________________ files.

Short answer

Answer: Separate header and source files.

Step-by-step solution

Identify programming practice

In programming, it is a good practice to store class declarations, function definitions, and the client program using the class in separate files.

Specify the type of files

The common programming practice involves using different types of files such as header files for class declarations, source files for function definitions, and another source file for the client program.

Fill the blank with the proper terminology

Considering the common programming practice, we can fill in the blank with the phrase "separate header and source". It means to store class declarations in header files, function definitions in source files, and the client program in a separate source file.

Key concepts

Header Files

Header files are essential in programming to organize and manage the structure of your code. They contain the declarations for classes, functions, and other identifiers.
Think of them as blueprints that tell the program what certain functions or classes should look like.
This separation simplifies management by having declarations in one place, which can be shared across multiple source files.

• Purpose: Header files are used to define the interface to your code. This means they provide information about the functions and classes that the source files will implement.
• Structure: Typically, header files have a .h or .hpp extension. They are included in source files using the #include directive.
• Advantage: One major advantage is the reusability and simplification of code management. It allows multiple source files to use the same declarations without duplication.

Header files improve compilation efficiency since changes in a header file are easier to track.
Overall, they help maintain a clean and well-organized codebase.

Source Files

Source files are where the actual implementation of the code resides. They are typically written in a programming language like C++ or Java and contain the definitions of the functions and methods that were declared in the header files.

• Implementation: Source files take the declarations from the header files and flesh them out into fully defined functions and classes.
• Extension: In C++, source files usually have a .cpp extension, while in Java, they have a .java extension.
• Compilation: These files are compiled to create an executable or library that can be run by the client program. Each source file is typically compiled independently into object code.

Since source files contain the core functionality of your program's logic, keeping them organized is crucial for maintaining performance and scalability.
Separation of code into different source files also aids in debugging and updating individual parts without affecting the entirety of the project.

Client Program

The client program is the part of your application that uses the classes and functions defined in your source and header files.
It orchestrates the different parts of the program to perform specific tasks or operations.
Typically, the client program is where the main function resides, acting as the entry point for execution.

• Interaction: The client program calls and interacts with the code defined in source files. It does so by utilizing the interfaces declared in the header files.
• Dependency Management: Including the right headers ensures that the client program has access to all the necessary declarations.
• Adaptability: A well-written client program should require minimal changes when the underlying code changes, assuming consistent interfaces are maintained.

The client program enables testing and verification of the code's functionality.
By designing it separately, different implementations can be tested or swapped without altering the base logic of the application.
This separation also enhances readability and maintainability, making it easier to modify the program as needed.