---
title: "virtual (C++) | Microsoft Docs"
ms.custom: ""
ms.date: "11/04/2016"
ms.technology: ["cpp-language"]
ms.topic: "language-reference"
f1_keywords: ["virtual_cpp", "virtual"]
dev_langs: ["C++"]
helpviewer_keywords: ["virtual base classes [C++], declaring", "base classes [C++], virtual", "virtual functions [C++], declaring", "virtual keyword [C++]"]
ms.assetid: c2eb987d-6cf3-43b6-aa0c-29a6f561b1ae
author: "mikeblome"
ms.author: "mblome"
ms.workload: ["cplusplus"]
---
# virtual (C++)

The **virtual** keyword declares a virtual function or a virtual base class.

## Syntax

```
virtual [type-specifiers] member-function-declarator
virtual [access-specifier] base-class-name
```

#### Parameters

*type-specifiers*<br/>
Specifies the return type of the virtual member function.

*member-function-declarator*<br/>
Declares a member function.

*access-specifier*<br/>
Defines the level of access to the base class, **public**, **protected** or **private**. Can appear before or after the **virtual** keyword.

*base-class-name*<br/>
Identifies a previously declared class type.

## Remarks

See [Virtual Functions](../cpp/virtual-functions.md) for more information.

Also see the following keywords: [class](../cpp/class-cpp.md), [private](../cpp/private-cpp.md), [public](../cpp/public-cpp.md), and [protected](../cpp/protected-cpp.md).

## See also

[Keywords](../cpp/keywords-cpp.md)