Can you define synonyms in C++?

Question

I have this problem: A class of mine has a function called f. Some member function needs to call a global function called f. Now that's impossible, as I understand. To reach the global function from the class I need to call it under another name. How can I assign another name to it?

Do synonyms exist in C++ ? To define a preprocessor symbol doesn't work here: The names must be different AFTER preprocessing. So I have this global function:

double f(double x)
{
    return x;
}

I could of course write another copy of the function with another name:

double f_(double x)
{
    return x;
}

but that's ugly. An elegant solution, please. I'm thinking about defining a global function pointer:

double (*f_)(double x) = &f;

or an inline wrapper function:

inline double f_(double x)
{
    return f(x);
}

But these are not truly synonyms. Is there a nicer way?

@iz_ You were first with this and deserves the cred that somebody else got. — Henrik4, Jan 16 '20 at 18:49

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 16 '20 at 18:32

3

I have this problem: A class of mine has a function called f. Some member function needs to call a global function called f. Now that's impossible, as I understand.

It's not impossible. Simply use the fully qualified name ::f to refer to the hidden global function.

As for giving an alias for a function, there is no way for the function itself, but if you put the function in a namespace, then you can give an alias to the namespace and thereby an alias to the qualified name of the function.

answered Jan 16 '20 at 18:32

eerorika

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Not a using statement, but: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/3053561/how-do-i-assign-an-alias-to-a-function-name-in-c – NathanOliver Jan 16 '20 at 18:37
Thanks, that's what I needed :). – Henrik4 Jan 16 '20 at 18:44
@NathanOliver That's a useful thread. Strange that eerorika's answer doesn't appear in there. – Henrik4 Jan 16 '20 at 18:45

Can you define synonyms in C++?

1 Answers1