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Why is implicit conversion not ambiguous for non-primitive types?


Can you use keyword explicit to prevent automatic conversion of method parameters?Why const for implicit conversion?Implicit conversion when overloading operators for template classesTemplate Constructor for Primitives, avoiding AmbiguityTemplate Type Deduction with Lambdasimplicit conversions from and to class typesConversion is ambiguous. Standard implicit conversion could not choose cast operatorGet type of implicit conversionImplicit conversion of stream to boolC++17: explicit conversion function vs explicit constructor + implicit conversions - have the rules changed?













7















Given a simple class template with multiple implicit conversion functions (non-explicit constructor and conversion operator), as in the following example:



template<class T>
class Foo
{
private:
T m_value;

public:
Foo();

Foo(const T& value):
m_value(value)
{
}

operator T() const {
return m_value;
}

bool operator==(const Foo<T>& other) const {
return m_value == other.m_value;
}
};

struct Bar
{
bool m;

bool operator==(const Bar& other) const {
return false;
}
};

int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
Foo<bool> a (true);
bool b = false;
if(a == b) {
// This is ambiguous
}

Foo<int> c (1);
int d = 2;
if(c == d) {
// This is ambiguous
}

Foo<Bar> e (Bar{true});
Bar f = {false};
if(e == f) {
// This is not ambiguous. Why?
}
}


The comparison operators involving primitive types (bool, int) are ambiguous, as expected - the compiler does not know whether it should use the conversion operator to convert the left-hand template class instance to a primitive type or use the conversion constructor to convert the right-hand primitive type to the expected class template instance.



However, the last comparison, involving a simple struct, is not ambiguous. Why? Which conversion function will be used?



Tested with compiler msvc 15.9.7.










share|improve this question























  • The explicit keyword is a nice thing. You should research it.

    – Jesper Juhl
    2 hours ago











  • e == f will be ambiguous in C++20, for what its worth.

    – Barry
    1 hour ago
















7















Given a simple class template with multiple implicit conversion functions (non-explicit constructor and conversion operator), as in the following example:



template<class T>
class Foo
{
private:
T m_value;

public:
Foo();

Foo(const T& value):
m_value(value)
{
}

operator T() const {
return m_value;
}

bool operator==(const Foo<T>& other) const {
return m_value == other.m_value;
}
};

struct Bar
{
bool m;

bool operator==(const Bar& other) const {
return false;
}
};

int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
Foo<bool> a (true);
bool b = false;
if(a == b) {
// This is ambiguous
}

Foo<int> c (1);
int d = 2;
if(c == d) {
// This is ambiguous
}

Foo<Bar> e (Bar{true});
Bar f = {false};
if(e == f) {
// This is not ambiguous. Why?
}
}


The comparison operators involving primitive types (bool, int) are ambiguous, as expected - the compiler does not know whether it should use the conversion operator to convert the left-hand template class instance to a primitive type or use the conversion constructor to convert the right-hand primitive type to the expected class template instance.



However, the last comparison, involving a simple struct, is not ambiguous. Why? Which conversion function will be used?



Tested with compiler msvc 15.9.7.










share|improve this question























  • The explicit keyword is a nice thing. You should research it.

    – Jesper Juhl
    2 hours ago











  • e == f will be ambiguous in C++20, for what its worth.

    – Barry
    1 hour ago














7












7








7








Given a simple class template with multiple implicit conversion functions (non-explicit constructor and conversion operator), as in the following example:



template<class T>
class Foo
{
private:
T m_value;

public:
Foo();

Foo(const T& value):
m_value(value)
{
}

operator T() const {
return m_value;
}

bool operator==(const Foo<T>& other) const {
return m_value == other.m_value;
}
};

struct Bar
{
bool m;

bool operator==(const Bar& other) const {
return false;
}
};

int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
Foo<bool> a (true);
bool b = false;
if(a == b) {
// This is ambiguous
}

Foo<int> c (1);
int d = 2;
if(c == d) {
// This is ambiguous
}

Foo<Bar> e (Bar{true});
Bar f = {false};
if(e == f) {
// This is not ambiguous. Why?
}
}


The comparison operators involving primitive types (bool, int) are ambiguous, as expected - the compiler does not know whether it should use the conversion operator to convert the left-hand template class instance to a primitive type or use the conversion constructor to convert the right-hand primitive type to the expected class template instance.



However, the last comparison, involving a simple struct, is not ambiguous. Why? Which conversion function will be used?



Tested with compiler msvc 15.9.7.










share|improve this question














Given a simple class template with multiple implicit conversion functions (non-explicit constructor and conversion operator), as in the following example:



template<class T>
class Foo
{
private:
T m_value;

public:
Foo();

Foo(const T& value):
m_value(value)
{
}

operator T() const {
return m_value;
}

bool operator==(const Foo<T>& other) const {
return m_value == other.m_value;
}
};

struct Bar
{
bool m;

bool operator==(const Bar& other) const {
return false;
}
};

int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
Foo<bool> a (true);
bool b = false;
if(a == b) {
// This is ambiguous
}

Foo<int> c (1);
int d = 2;
if(c == d) {
// This is ambiguous
}

Foo<Bar> e (Bar{true});
Bar f = {false};
if(e == f) {
// This is not ambiguous. Why?
}
}


The comparison operators involving primitive types (bool, int) are ambiguous, as expected - the compiler does not know whether it should use the conversion operator to convert the left-hand template class instance to a primitive type or use the conversion constructor to convert the right-hand primitive type to the expected class template instance.



However, the last comparison, involving a simple struct, is not ambiguous. Why? Which conversion function will be used?



Tested with compiler msvc 15.9.7.







c++ templates c++17 implicit-conversion ambiguous






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked 2 hours ago









CybranCybran

1,047818




1,047818













  • The explicit keyword is a nice thing. You should research it.

    – Jesper Juhl
    2 hours ago











  • e == f will be ambiguous in C++20, for what its worth.

    – Barry
    1 hour ago



















  • The explicit keyword is a nice thing. You should research it.

    – Jesper Juhl
    2 hours ago











  • e == f will be ambiguous in C++20, for what its worth.

    – Barry
    1 hour ago

















The explicit keyword is a nice thing. You should research it.

– Jesper Juhl
2 hours ago





The explicit keyword is a nice thing. You should research it.

– Jesper Juhl
2 hours ago













e == f will be ambiguous in C++20, for what its worth.

– Barry
1 hour ago





e == f will be ambiguous in C++20, for what its worth.

– Barry
1 hour ago












2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















10














According to [over.binary]/1




Thus, for any binary operator @, x@y can be interpreted
as either x.operator@(y) or operator@(x,y).




According to this rule, in the case of e == f, the compiler can only interpret it as e.operator==(f), not as f.operator==(e). So there is no ambiguity; the operator== you defined as a member of Bar is simply not a candidate for overload resolution.



In the case of a == b and c == d, the built-in candidate operator==(int, int) (see [over.built]/13) competes with the operator== defined as a member of Foo<T>.






share|improve this answer































    2














    Operator overloads implemented as member functions don't allow for implicit conversion of their left hand side operand, which is the object on which they are called. It always helps to write down the explicit form of the operator overload to see what that means:



    Foo<Bar> e (Bar{true});
    Bar f = {false};

    // Pretty explicit: call the member function Foo<Bar>::operator==
    if(e.operator ==(f)) { /* ... */ }


    This can't be confused with the comparison operator in Bar, because it would require an implicit conversion of the left hand side operand, which is impossible. You can trigger an ambiguity similar to the ones you see with the builtin types when you define Bar and its comparison operator like this:



    struct Bar { bool m; };

    // A free function allows conversion, this will be ambigious:
    bool operator==(const Bar&, const Bar&)
    {
    return false;
    }


    This is nicely demonstrated and explained in Item 24, Scott Meyers, Effective C++.






    share|improve this answer

























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      2 Answers
      2






      active

      oldest

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      2 Answers
      2






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      10














      According to [over.binary]/1




      Thus, for any binary operator @, x@y can be interpreted
      as either x.operator@(y) or operator@(x,y).




      According to this rule, in the case of e == f, the compiler can only interpret it as e.operator==(f), not as f.operator==(e). So there is no ambiguity; the operator== you defined as a member of Bar is simply not a candidate for overload resolution.



      In the case of a == b and c == d, the built-in candidate operator==(int, int) (see [over.built]/13) competes with the operator== defined as a member of Foo<T>.






      share|improve this answer




























        10














        According to [over.binary]/1




        Thus, for any binary operator @, x@y can be interpreted
        as either x.operator@(y) or operator@(x,y).




        According to this rule, in the case of e == f, the compiler can only interpret it as e.operator==(f), not as f.operator==(e). So there is no ambiguity; the operator== you defined as a member of Bar is simply not a candidate for overload resolution.



        In the case of a == b and c == d, the built-in candidate operator==(int, int) (see [over.built]/13) competes with the operator== defined as a member of Foo<T>.






        share|improve this answer


























          10












          10








          10







          According to [over.binary]/1




          Thus, for any binary operator @, x@y can be interpreted
          as either x.operator@(y) or operator@(x,y).




          According to this rule, in the case of e == f, the compiler can only interpret it as e.operator==(f), not as f.operator==(e). So there is no ambiguity; the operator== you defined as a member of Bar is simply not a candidate for overload resolution.



          In the case of a == b and c == d, the built-in candidate operator==(int, int) (see [over.built]/13) competes with the operator== defined as a member of Foo<T>.






          share|improve this answer













          According to [over.binary]/1




          Thus, for any binary operator @, x@y can be interpreted
          as either x.operator@(y) or operator@(x,y).




          According to this rule, in the case of e == f, the compiler can only interpret it as e.operator==(f), not as f.operator==(e). So there is no ambiguity; the operator== you defined as a member of Bar is simply not a candidate for overload resolution.



          In the case of a == b and c == d, the built-in candidate operator==(int, int) (see [over.built]/13) competes with the operator== defined as a member of Foo<T>.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 2 hours ago









          BrianBrian

          65.6k797186




          65.6k797186

























              2














              Operator overloads implemented as member functions don't allow for implicit conversion of their left hand side operand, which is the object on which they are called. It always helps to write down the explicit form of the operator overload to see what that means:



              Foo<Bar> e (Bar{true});
              Bar f = {false};

              // Pretty explicit: call the member function Foo<Bar>::operator==
              if(e.operator ==(f)) { /* ... */ }


              This can't be confused with the comparison operator in Bar, because it would require an implicit conversion of the left hand side operand, which is impossible. You can trigger an ambiguity similar to the ones you see with the builtin types when you define Bar and its comparison operator like this:



              struct Bar { bool m; };

              // A free function allows conversion, this will be ambigious:
              bool operator==(const Bar&, const Bar&)
              {
              return false;
              }


              This is nicely demonstrated and explained in Item 24, Scott Meyers, Effective C++.






              share|improve this answer






























                2














                Operator overloads implemented as member functions don't allow for implicit conversion of their left hand side operand, which is the object on which they are called. It always helps to write down the explicit form of the operator overload to see what that means:



                Foo<Bar> e (Bar{true});
                Bar f = {false};

                // Pretty explicit: call the member function Foo<Bar>::operator==
                if(e.operator ==(f)) { /* ... */ }


                This can't be confused with the comparison operator in Bar, because it would require an implicit conversion of the left hand side operand, which is impossible. You can trigger an ambiguity similar to the ones you see with the builtin types when you define Bar and its comparison operator like this:



                struct Bar { bool m; };

                // A free function allows conversion, this will be ambigious:
                bool operator==(const Bar&, const Bar&)
                {
                return false;
                }


                This is nicely demonstrated and explained in Item 24, Scott Meyers, Effective C++.






                share|improve this answer




























                  2












                  2








                  2







                  Operator overloads implemented as member functions don't allow for implicit conversion of their left hand side operand, which is the object on which they are called. It always helps to write down the explicit form of the operator overload to see what that means:



                  Foo<Bar> e (Bar{true});
                  Bar f = {false};

                  // Pretty explicit: call the member function Foo<Bar>::operator==
                  if(e.operator ==(f)) { /* ... */ }


                  This can't be confused with the comparison operator in Bar, because it would require an implicit conversion of the left hand side operand, which is impossible. You can trigger an ambiguity similar to the ones you see with the builtin types when you define Bar and its comparison operator like this:



                  struct Bar { bool m; };

                  // A free function allows conversion, this will be ambigious:
                  bool operator==(const Bar&, const Bar&)
                  {
                  return false;
                  }


                  This is nicely demonstrated and explained in Item 24, Scott Meyers, Effective C++.






                  share|improve this answer















                  Operator overloads implemented as member functions don't allow for implicit conversion of their left hand side operand, which is the object on which they are called. It always helps to write down the explicit form of the operator overload to see what that means:



                  Foo<Bar> e (Bar{true});
                  Bar f = {false};

                  // Pretty explicit: call the member function Foo<Bar>::operator==
                  if(e.operator ==(f)) { /* ... */ }


                  This can't be confused with the comparison operator in Bar, because it would require an implicit conversion of the left hand side operand, which is impossible. You can trigger an ambiguity similar to the ones you see with the builtin types when you define Bar and its comparison operator like this:



                  struct Bar { bool m; };

                  // A free function allows conversion, this will be ambigious:
                  bool operator==(const Bar&, const Bar&)
                  {
                  return false;
                  }


                  This is nicely demonstrated and explained in Item 24, Scott Meyers, Effective C++.







                  share|improve this answer














                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer








                  edited 1 hour ago

























                  answered 2 hours ago









                  lubgrlubgr

                  13.8k32052




                  13.8k32052






























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