Problem with protected fields in base class in c++

Question

I have a base class, say BassClass, with some fields, which I made them protected, and some pure virtual functions. Then the derived class, say DerivedClass, like class DerivedClass : public BassClass. Shouldn't DerivedClass inherit the protected fields from BassClass? When I tried to compile the DerivedClass, the compiler complains that DerivedClass does NOT have any of those fields, what is wrong here? thanks

Answer 1

If BassClass (sic) and DerivedClass are templates, and the BassClass member you want to access from DerivedClass isn't specified as a dependent name, it will not be visible.

E.g.

template <typename T> class BaseClass {
protected: 
    int value;
};

template <typename T> class DerivedClass : public BaseClass<T> {
public:
    int get_value() {return value;} // ERROR: value is not a dependent name
};

To gain access you need to give more information. For example, you might fully specify the member's name:

    int get_value() {return BaseClass<T>::value;}

Or you might make it explicit that you're referring to a class member:

    int get_value() {return this->value;}