Perfect Forwarding and Overload Resolution
How does perfect forwarding affect overload resolution when forwarding arguments to a function with multiple overloads?
Perfect forwarding using std::forward()
can have an impact on overload resolution when forwarding arguments to a function with multiple overloads. The forwarded arguments maintain their value category and const-ness, which can influence which overload gets selected.
Consider the following example:
#include <iostream>
void process_data(int& x) {
std::cout << "process_data(int&): "
<< x << "\n";
}
void process_data(const int& x) {
std::cout << "process_data(const int&): "
<< x << "\n";
}
void process_data(int&& x) {
std::cout << "process_data(int&&): "
<< x << "\n";
}
template <typename T>
void forward_data(T&& arg) {
process_data(std::forward<T>(arg));
}
int main() {
int a = 10;
const int b = 20;
forward_data(a);
forward_data(b);
forward_data(30);
}
process_data(int&): 10
process_data(const int&): 20
process_data(int&&): 30
In this example, process_data()
has three overloads:
process_data(int& x)
: Takes a non-const lvalue reference.process_data(const int& x)
: Takes a const lvalue reference.process_data(int&& x)
: Takes an rvalue reference.
The forward_data()
function template takes a forwarding reference arg
and forwards it to process_data()
using std::forward<T>(arg)
.
When forward_data()
is called with different arguments:
forward_data(a)
:a
is an lvalue, soT
deduces toint&
. The overloadprocess_data(int&)
is selected.forward_data(b)
:b
is a const lvalue, soT
deduces toconst int&
. The overloadprocess_data(const int&)
is selected.forward_data(30)
:30
is an rvalue, soT
deduces toint
. The overloadprocess_data(int&&)
is selected.
Perfect forwarding with std::forward()
ensures that the forwarded arguments maintain their value category and const-ness, allowing the appropriate overload of process_data()
to be selected based on the argument type.
This demonstrates how perfect forwarding can impact overload resolution when forwarding arguments to a function with multiple overloads, enabling the selection of the most suitable overload based on the forwarded argument type.
Perfect Forwarding and std::forward
An introduction to problems that can arise when our functions forward their parameters to other functions, and how we can solve those problems with std::forward