Why a temp value cannot be used in a constructor with a const reference argument?

Question

The code is as below

class A {};
class B
{
public:
    B(const A& a) {}
    void fun() {}
};

int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
    B b(A());
    b.fun(); // Error: left of '.fun' must have class/struct/union  

    A a;
    B b2(a);
    b2.fun(); //Okay

    return 0;
}

Why?

Most vexing parse at work. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Most_vexing_parse — chris, Apr 16 '13 at 02:51
@chris You mean that Clang outputs more informative error messages? Because I very much doubt it has "worked around" the most vexing parse... — Cody Gray - on strike, Apr 16 '13 at 03:00

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited Apr 16 '13 at 02:58

2

The code

 B b(A());

is not declaring an object of B, but rather a function declaration for a function b which returns an object of type B and takes a single (unnamed) argument which is a function returning type A(and taking no input). (Quoting from link below). Therefore, you saw that error.

See C++ most vexing parse

edited Apr 16 '13 at 02:58

Cody Gray - on strike

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answered Apr 16 '13 at 02:53

taocp

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Why a temp value cannot be used in a constructor with a const reference argument?

1 Answers1