Decltype Specifier

decltype specifier
Inspects the declared type of an entity or the type and value category of an expression.
Syntax
decltype ( entity ) (1) (since C++11)
decltype ( expression ) (2) (since C++11)
Explanation
1) If the argument is an unparenthesized id-expression or an unparenthesized class member access expression, then decltype yields the type of the entity
named by this expression. If there is no such entity, or if the argument names a set of overloaded functions, the program is ill-formed.
If the argument is an unparenthesized id-expression naming a structured binding, then decltype yields the referenced type (described in the
(since C++17)
specification of the structured binding declaration).
If the argument is an unparenthesized id-expression naming a non-type template parameter, then decltype yields the type of the template
parameter (after performing any necessary type deduction if the template parameter is declared with a placeholder type). The type is non- (since C++20)
const even if the entity is a template parameter object (which is a const object).
2) If the argument is any other expression of type T, and
a) if the value category of expression is xvalue, then decltype yields T&& ;
b) if the value category of expression is lvalue, then decltype yields T& ;
c) if the value category of expression is prvalue, then decltype yields T .
If expression is a function call which returns a prvalue of class type or is a comma expression whose right operand is such a function call,
(until C++17)
a temporary object is not introduced for that prvalue.
If expression is a prvalue other than a (possibly parenthesized) immediate invocation (since C++20) , a temporary object is not materialized
(since C++17)
from that prvalue: such prvalue has no result object.
Because no temporary object is created, the type need not be complete or have an available destructor, and can be abstract. This rule doesn't apply to
sub-expressions: in decltype(f(g())) , g() must have a complete type, but f() need not.
Note that if the name of an object is parenthesized, it is treated as an ordinary lvalue expression, thus decltype(x) and decltype((x)) are often different
types.
decltype is useful when declaring types that are difficult or impossible to declare using standard notation, like lambda-related types or types that depend on
template parameters.
Notes
Feature-test macro Value Std Comment

__cpp_decltype 200707L (C++11) decltype
Keywords
decltype
Example
Run this code
#include <iostream>
#include <type_traits>
struct A { double x; };
const A* a;
decltype(a->x) y; // type of y is double (declared type)

decltype((a->x)) z = y; // type of z is const double& (lvalue expression)
template<typename T, typename U>

auto add(T t, U u) -> decltype(t + u) // return type depends on template parameters
// return type can be deduced since C++14
{
return t + u;
}
const int& getRef(const int* p) { return *p; }

static_assert(std::is_same_v<decltype(getRef), const int&(const int*)>);
auto getRefFwdBad(const int* p) { return getRef(p); }
static_assert(std::is_same_v<decltype(getRefFwdBad), int(const int*)>,
"Just returning auto isn't perfect forwarding.");
decltype(auto) getRefFwdGood(const int* p) { return getRef(p); }
static_assert(std::is_same_v<decltype(getRefFwdGood), const int&(const int*)>,
"Returning decltype(auto) perfectly forwards the return type.");
// Alternatively:
auto getRefFwdGood1(const int* p) -> decltype(getRef(p)) { return getRef(p); }
static_assert(std::is_same_v<decltype(getRefFwdGood1), const int&(const int*)>,
"Returning decltype(return expression) also perfectly forwards the return type.");
int main()
{
int i = 33;
decltype(i) j = i * 2;
std::cout << "i and j are the same type? " << std::boolalpha
<< std::is_same_v<decltype(i), decltype(j)> << '\n';
std::cout << "i = " << i << ", "

<< "j = " << j << '\n';
auto f = [](int a, int b) -> int

{
return a * b;
};
decltype(f) g = f; // the type of a lambda function is unique and unnamed

i = f(2, 2);
j = g(3, 3);
std::cout << "i = " << i << ", "

<< "j = " << j << '\n';
}
Output:
i and j are the same type? true

i = 33, j = 66
i = 4, j = 9
See also
auto specifier (C++11) specifies a type deduced from an expression

obtains a reference to its argument for use in unevaluated context
declval (C++11) (function template)
checks if two types are the same
is_same (C++11) (class template)
Retrieved from "https://en.cppreference.com/mwiki/index.php?title=cpp/language/decltype&oldid=146210"

Decltype Specifier

Uploaded by

Decltype Specifier

Uploaded by

decltype specifier

decltype ( entity ) (1) (since C++11)

decltype ( expression ) (2) (since C++11)

Feature-test macro Value Std Comment

Run this code

decltype(a->x) y; // type of y is double (declared type)

template<typename T, typename U>

const int& getRef(const int* p) { return *p; }

std::cout << "i = " << i << ", "

auto f = [](int a, int b) -> int

decltype(f) g = f; // the type of a lambda function is unique and unnamed

std::cout << "i = " << i << ", "

i and j are the same type? true

auto specifier (C++11) specifies a type deduced from an expression

Retrieved from "https://en.cppreference.com/mwiki/index.php?title=cpp/language/decltype&oldid=146210"

You might also like