--- title: "virtual Specifier | Microsoft Docs" ms.custom: "" ms.date: "11/04/2016" ms.reviewer: "" ms.suite: "" ms.technology: ["cpp-language"] ms.tgt_pltfrm: "" ms.topic: "language-reference" dev_langs: ["C++"] helpviewer_keywords: ["function specifiers, virtual", "virtual keyword [C++]"] ms.assetid: 4f3dfdea-a6cb-499b-832d-e237b96062d0 caps.latest.revision: 9 author: "mikeblome" ms.author: "mblome" manager: "ghogen" --- # virtual Specifier The [virtual](../cpp/virtual-cpp.md) keyword can be applied only to nonstatic class member functions. It signifies that binding of calls to the function is deferred until run time. For more information, see [Virtual Functions](../cpp/virtual-functions.md).