Some C++ compilers support "fast path" devirtualization via profiling feedback: http://hubicka.blogspot.com/2014/04/devirtualization-in-c-part-5-feedback.html

Some C++ compilers support "fast path" devirtualization via profiling feedback: http://hubicka.blogspot.com/2014/04/devirtualization-in-c-part-5-feedback.html http://hubicka.blogspot.com/2014/04/devirtualization-in-c-pa... As you suggest, it's a little misleading to talk about the runtime cost of a virtual or indirect function call in isolation. The most significant cost is often the resulting inability of the compiler to inline and perform further optimizations across the caller and callee.