Friend Function || OOP C++ concept || using simple code example
In C++, a friend function is a function that is not a member of a class but is granted access to its private and protected members. This allows the function to operate on the private data of the class as if it were a member function. Friend functions are declared in the class, but their actual implementation is defined outside the class scope. They are typically used to facilitate external operations on a class's private data without violating encapsulation.