Re: Is it legal code?

From:
itaj sherman <itajsherman@gmail.com>
Newsgroups:
comp.lang.c++
Date:
Sun, 20 Feb 2011 08:29:09 -0800 (PST)
Message-ID:
<b91f0de6-3bdf-4b50-bdff-8f44f8fd796c@k18g2000vbq.googlegroups.com>
On Feb 20, 5:48 pm, "Paul" <pchris...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

"James Kanze" <james.ka...@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:4d77d6ac-8b83-4dd3-bc23-a5426efd7c81@s9g2000yqm.googlegroups.com...

On Feb 20, 1:09 am, "Paul" <pchris...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

"gwowen" <gwo...@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:d411186f-2faa-4429-bcbc-286e7d4c32a4@e21g2000yqe.googlegroups.com.=

...

On Feb 19, 11:27 am, "Paul" <pchris...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

Is it legal to invoke a (non static) member function without an obje=

ct?

I read something in the C++ standard that it may not be standard
compliant
code to invoke a (non static)member function directly from a pointer=

..

--If the pointer points to an object that still exists, its fine.
--Otherwise, no. Essentially the same as dereferencing the pointer.

So given that the following is true:

"If a nonstatic member function of a class X is called for an
object that is not of type X, or of a type derived from X, the
behavior is undefined."

It follows that if an object(or derived object) does not exist then it=

 is

undefined behaviour to call its respective nonstatic member function?
Therefore it must be true that a member function does not exist withou=

t

an
object.


I don't quite follow you here. If I have a function:
   void f(int&);
, it's undefined behavior for me to call f without a an object
of type int.


You must've forgot we are talking about *member functions*.

The function f(int&) still "exists". For some
definition of "exists"---this is getting a bit too metaphysical
for me. One could argue that in C++, only "objects" exist, and
references and functions aren't objects, so can't "exist".


An object(instance of a class type) has a lifetime, it exists for the
duration of its lifetime.
Because C++ disallows calling nonstatic member functions, without an obje=

ct

of , or derived from, the respective class type. A non static member
function cannot exist unless an object exists.


Does the following also work?

An object(instance of a class type) has a lifetime, it exists for the
duration of its lifetime.
Because C++ disallows calling global functions with a class reference
parameter, without an object of , or derived from, the respective
class type. Such function cannot exist unless an object exists.

struct A {};
void foo( A& )
{
}
// foo does not exist here.

int main()
{
  //foo does not exist here either.
  A a;
  // aah there you go, now foo exists.
  foo( a );
}

itaj

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