Can I initialize static const class member?

Question

I want to run this code:

struct A {
    static const string d[] = {"1", "2"};    
};

And get an error:

error: in-class initialization of static data member ‘const string A::d []’ of incomplete type
     static const string d[] = {"1", "2"};
                         ^
error: non-constant in-class initialization invalid for non-inline static member ‘A::d’
     static const string d[] = {"1", "2"};
                                        ^
note: (an out of class initialization is required)

Here I find information that now I can initialize what I want. So what the problem?

If I add inline then it will work:

struct A {
    static const inline string d[] = {"1", "2"};    
};

UPD: I know the solves but why c++ works like that?

The information you found most certainly did not imply you can do it without `inline`. The accepted answer very clearly states integers are a special case. — StoryTeller - Unslander Monica, Oct 02 '20 at 16:34
Even if it was allowed, clearly this compiler is saying you can't do it, and at the end of the day the compiler is always right. — user4581301, Oct 02 '20 at 16:39

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Oct 02 '20 at 16:58

1

As you noticed you can either use inline or the following:

struct A {
    static const string d[];    
};

and

const string A::d[] = {"1", "2"};

in a dedicated compilation unit (once only).

Live Demo

answered Oct 02 '20 at 16:58

πάντα ῥεῖ

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@dasfex Because it's defined like that in the c++ standard. The reason probably is to force the One Definition Rule (ODR). – πάντα ῥεῖ Oct 02 '20 at 20:38
but it doesn't work with `inline` if you use variable in the middle. – Алексей Неудачин Nov 20 '20 at 04:29

Antony Peacock · Accepted Answer · 2020-10-05T12:36:03.353

The standard explicitly states that non-inline static data members of a class are declaration only, and must be followed up by definition at namespace scope: class.static.data#3

3: The declaration of a non-inline static data member in its class definition is not a definition and may be of an incomplete type other than cv void. The definition for a static data member that is not defined inline in the class definition shall appear in a namespace scope enclosing the member's class definition. In the definition at namespace scope, the name of the static data member shall be qualified by its class name using the ::operator. The initializer expression in the definition of a static data member is in the scope of its class ([basic.scope.class]).

These rules are then refined further so that non-volatile non-inline const static data member of integral or enumeration type can be brace initialised (in effect defining the variable at the point of declaration): class.static.data#4

4: If a non-volatile non-inline const static data member is of integral or enumeration type, its declaration in the class definition can specify a brace-or-equal-initializer in which every initializer-clause that is an assignment-expression is a constant expression ([expr.const]). The member shall still be defined in a namespace scope if it is odr-used ([basic.def.odr]) in the program and the namespace scope definition shall not contain an initializer. An inline static data member may be defined in the class definition and may specify a brace-or-equal-initializer.

In non-standardese speak, this says that you must define static member variables separately from the definition except for the case of integers or enums, which explains why your example fails.

Can I initialize static const class member?

2 Answers2