ans is C friend function is not a member of class it works as a bridge between 2 classes
one of the most convenient and controversial feature of C++ is allowing non -memeber function to access even the private members of a class using friend function or friend classes . It permits a function or all the functions of another class to access a different class's private members
In object-oriented programming, a friend function, that is a "friend" of a given class, is a function that is given the same access than methods to private and protected data. [1]
A friend function is declared by the class that is granting access, so friend functions are part of the class interface, like methods. Friend functions allow alternative syntax to use objects, for instance f(x)
instead of x.f()
, or g(x,y)
instead of x.g(y)
. Friend functions have the same implications on encapsulation than methods.