Implementing a noexcept move assignment operator

How can I implement a noexcept move assignment operator for a custom type?

To implement a noexcept move assignment operator for a custom type, you need to define the operator= member function that takes an rvalue reference to the type and is marked as noexcept. Here's an example:

#include <iostream>
#include <utility>

class MyType {
 private:
  int* data;

 public:
  MyType(int value) : data(new int(value)) {}

  ~MyType() { delete data; }

  MyType& operator=(MyType&& other) noexcept {  
    if (this != &other) {
      delete data;
      data = other.data;
      other.data = nullptr;
    }
    return *this;
  }
};

int main() {
  MyType obj1(10);
  MyType obj2(20);

  obj2 = std::move(obj1);
}

In this example, the move assignment operator:

  1. Checks for self-assignment to avoid deleting the object's own data.
  2. Deletes the current object's data.
  3. Moves the data pointer from the other object to the current object.
  4. Sets the other object's data pointer to nullptr to avoid double deletion.
  5. Returns a reference to the current object.

By marking the move assignment operator as noexcept, you indicate that it guarantees not to throw any exceptions, allowing it to be used in move operations without the risk of leaving objects in an indeterminate state.

Using std::terminate() and the noexcept Specifier

This lesson explores the std::terminate() function and noexcept specifier, with particular focus on their interactions with move semantics.

Questions & Answers

Answers are generated by AI models and may not have been reviewed. Be mindful when running any code on your device.

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What is the difference between std::terminate() and std::abort() in C++?
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How can I handle exceptions within a noexcept function without terminating the program?
Logging with a custom terminate handler
How can I use a custom terminate handler to log information about an unhandled exception?
Using noexcept with move-only types
Why is noexcept important when working with move-only types?
noexcept and exception guarantees
How does the noexcept specifier relate to exception safety guarantees in C++?
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