constant initialization
Sets the initial values of the static constants
Contents |
[edit] Syntax
static T & ref = constexpr;
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(1) | ||||||||
static T object = constexpr;
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(2) | ||||||||
[edit] Explanation
Constant initialization is performed after (until C++14)instead of (since C++14) zero initialization of the static and thread-local objects and before all other initialization. Only the following variables are constant initialized:
The effects of constant initialization are the same as the effects of the corresponding initialization, except that it's guaranteed that it is complete before any other initialization of a static or thread-local object begins, and it may be performed at compile time.
The object that was initialized by constant initialization can be used in constant expressions, e.g. in an array declaration.
[edit] Notes
The compiler is permitted to initialize other static and thread-local objects using constant initialization, if it can guarantee that the value would be the same as if the standard order of initialization was followed. Such objects can be used in constant expressions, but this use is not portable.
[edit] Example
#include <iostream> #include <array> struct S { static const int c; }; const int d = 10 * S::c; // not a constant expression: S::c has no preceding // initializer, this initialization happens after const const int S::c = 5; // constant initialization, guaranteed to happen first int main() { std::cout << "d = " << d << '\n'; std::array<int, S::c> a1; // OK: S::c is a constant expression // std::array<int, d> a2; // error: d is not a constant expression }
Output:
d = 50
[edit] Defect reports
The following behavior-changing defect reports were applied retroactively to previously published C++ standards.
DR | Applied to | Behavior as published | Correct behavior |
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CWG 2026 | C++14 | zero-init was specified to always occur first, even before constant-init | no zero-init if constant init applies |