Re: default value for pointer in templates

From:
"Igor Tandetnik" <itandetnik@mvps.org>
Newsgroups:
microsoft.public.vc.language
Date:
Mon, 11 Feb 2008 08:49:24 -0500
Message-ID:
<elgorTLbIHA.3940@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl>
"Mycroft Holmes" <m.holmes@nospam.it> wrote in message
news:%23H1S4PJbIHA.2268@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl

I know that some casts are illegal in template parameters, but
assigning zero to a pointer says "invalid conversion from int to
pointer"... it looks a bit pedantic :)
this does not work:

template <typename T, int (*F)(int) = 0>
class XXX
{
};


14.3.2/5 ...
    - for a non-type template-parameter of type pointer to object,
qualification conversions (4.4) and the array-to-pointer conversion
(4.2) are applied. [Note: In particular, neither the null pointer
conversion (4.10) nor the derived-to-base conversion (4.10) are applied.
Although 0 is a valid template-argument for a non-type
template-parameter of integral type, it is not a valid template-argument
for a non-type template-parameter of pointer type. ]
....
    - For a non-type template-parameter of type pointer to function,
only the function-to-pointer conversion (4.3) is applied...

The important part is that null pointer conversion is not performed.
That's why you get the error. Make it

template <typename T, int (*F)(int) = static_cast<int(*)(int)>(0) >
class XXX
{
};

See also DR#354:
http://www.open-std.org/jtc1/sc22/wg21/docs/cwg_defects.html#354 . It
explains, by example, why a cast is required.
--
With best wishes,
    Igor Tandetnik

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