C++ overloading comparison operators vs casting operators

Question

Why don't we need to specify the return type when overloading a casting operator like bool/string

operator bool()

but we need to define the return type when overloading a comparison operator (!, >, <)

bool& operator ! ()

Why don't we define it as bool operator bool() instead.

comparison `operator <` might return other type than `bool`, even if unusual. As "named operator": `42 container`. — Jarod42, Dec 22 '18 at 17:10

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Dec 22 '18 at 17:04

0

bool is the return type in operator bool().

answered Dec 22 '18 at 17:04

Barry

I know, but why don't we need to specify the return value here (same for string) – Ak-Mo Dec 22 '18 at 17:06
1

@Ak-Mo I don't understand what that question means. – Barry Dec 22 '18 at 17:06
Edited the question, in short, I'm trying to understand why we don't define it as: `bool operator bool()` – Ak-Mo Dec 22 '18 at 17:11
@Ak-Mo Because that's redundant at best and suggests that you could put different types in the two slots at worst. – Barry Dec 22 '18 at 17:12

1 Answers1