c++c++11templatesvariadic-templatespack-expansion

How do you loop over a parameter pack using a pack expansion?


I am trying to learn variadic templates and functions. I can't understand why this code doesn't compile:

template<typename T>
static void bar(T t) {}

template<typename... Args>
static void foo2(Args... args)
{
    (bar(args)...);
}

int main()
{
    foo2(1, 2, 3, "3");
    return 0;    
}

When I compile it fails with the error:

Error C3520: 'args': parameter pack must be expanded in this context

(in function foo2).


Solution

  • One of the places where a pack expansion can occur is inside a braced-init-list. You can take advantage of this by putting the expansion inside the initializer list of a dummy array:

    template<typename... Args>
    static void foo2(Args &&... args)
    {
        int dummy[] = { 0, ( (void) bar(std::forward<Args>(args)), 0) ... };
    }
    

    To explain the content of the initializer in more detail:

    { 0, ( (void) bar(std::forward<Args>(args)), 0) ... };
      │       │       │                        │     │
      │       │       │                        │     └─// pack expand the whole thing 
      │       │       │                        │   
      │       │       └─// perfect forwarding  └─// comma operator
      │       │
      │       └─// cast to void to ensure that regardless of bar()'s return type
      │         // the built-in comma operator is used rather than an overloaded one
      │
      └─// ensure that the array has at least one element so that we don't try to make an
        // illegal 0-length array when args is empty
    

    Demo.

    An important advantage of expanding in {} is that it guarantees left-to-right evaluation.


    With C++17 fold expressions, you can just write

    ((void) bar(std::forward<Args>(args)), ...);