c++c++20spaceship-operatorstrict-weak-ordering

How to force std::weak_ordering


While trying out the new Tie-Interceptor three-way comparison operator <=> I was wondering what would be an example such that

struct Foo {
    /*
       ....
    */
    auto operator<=>(const Foo &rhs) const = default;
};

would lead to a compiler error with

Foo Bar1;
Foo Bar2;
std::strong_ordering(Bar1 <=> Bar2);

but not with

Foo Bar1;
Foo Bar2;
std::weak_ordering(Bar1 <=> Bar2);

What would be an example for Foo? In other words how would Foo not imply substitutability? I know that I could write my own implementation of the operator which returns std::weak_ordering ... less/greater/equivalent but how to force the compiler to do so?

I've read Practical meaning of strong_ordering and weak_ordering among others so far.


Solution

  • ... but how to force the compiler to do so?

    When you use auto as the return type of defaulted operator<=>, the compiler will pick the common comparison category of all the members. So if you have something like:

    // any type that is weakly ordered
    struct Weak {
        bool operator==(Weak const&) const;
        std::weak_ordering operator<=>(Weak const&) const;
    };
    
    struct Foo {
        Weak w;
        int i;
        auto operator<=>(Foo const&) const = default;
    };
    

    Then using <=> on two instances of type Foo will give you a weak_ordering, since that's the common comparison category of Weak and int.

    In the same way that given:

    struct Bar {
        float f;
        auto operator<=>(Bar const&) const = default;
    };
    

    Bar::operator<=> gives you a std::partial_ordering.

    There are no core language types that give you a std::weak_ordering, but there are some library types that might:

    // some typical C++17 comparable type
    struct Widget {
        bool operator==(Widget const&) const;
        bool operator<(Widget const&) const;
    };
    
    struct LotsOfWidgets {
        std::vector<Widget> widgets;
        auto operator<=>(LotsOfWidgets const&) const = default;
    };
    

    The <=> here returns std::weak_ordering (to avoid having to assume what it is you meant by < and ==).


    Or you could simply provide that yourself. You don't have to use auto:

    struct WeakInt {
        int i;
        friend std::weak_ordering operator<=>(WeakInt, WeakInt) = default;
    };