casting - How can I remove the number associated with typeid( ).name( ) in C++? -

i have factory method class generates "items" , returns pointer item creates.

i have derived classes of item. example, item can "weapon" "consumable" or "armor."

i need detect type of item created can cast item type. did test lines , looks it's doing want, except adding number associated type.

example:

i had line:

cout << "type created: " << typeid(pitem).name() << endl; 

which return base class item, display: "4item"

i changed to:

cout << "type created: " << typeid(*pitem).name() << endl; 

which give me correct derived type, throw in number. "5armor"

why did pitem return base class? , why return int type? how can remove int?

a solution want - in "cheating" kind of way:

            string type;             string returnedtype = typeid(*pitem1).name();             (int i=1; < returnedtype.length(); i++){                     type.push_back(returnedtype[i]);             }             cout << "type: " << type << endl; 

thanks

you shouldn't use type-codes , switch/downcasts this. instead, put object-specific code virtual method or (depending on problem @ hand) use visitor pattern. current approach in end:

int price = 0;  if (obj->get_type_str() == "armor") {     price = 1000 + ((armor *)obj)->get_durability() * 100; } else if (obj->get_type_str() == "ninjasword") {     price = 5000 * ((ninjasword *)obj)->get_damage(); } else if (obj->get_type_str() == "bfg") {     price = 20000; }  shop->show_price(price); 

the problem is, isn't extensible. instead of defining price of object along object, littered around code. better way provide virtual method get_price(), can this:

class gameobject { public:     virtual ~gameobject() {}     virtual int get_price() const = 0; };  class armor: public gameobject { public:     virtual int get_price() const     {         return 1000 + durability * 100;     }  private:     int durability; };  class ninjasword: public gameobject { public:     virtual int get_price() const     {         return 5000 * damage;     }  private:     int damage; };  class bfg: public gameobject { public:     virtual int get_price() const     {         return 20000;     } }; 

now object-specific code stays in object , previous code example becomes:

shop->show_price(obj->get_price()); 

if code in question doesn't belong object, may case visitor pattern.