The following main.cpp illustrates the problem:
#include <type_traits>
template <class T, std::size_t N>
struct Array
{
T data_[N];
};
template <const std::size_t* EltArray, std::size_t EltCount>
struct Foo
{
};
int main()
{
// SIDE NOTE if arr is not declared static: the address of 'arr' is not a valid template argument
// because it does not have static storage duration
static constexpr std::size_t arr[3] = {1, 2, 3};
Foo<arr, 3> foo;// WORKING
static constexpr Array<std::size_t, 3> arr2 = {1, 2, 3};
static constexpr const std::size_t* arr2_ptr = arr2.data_;
Foo<arr2_ptr, 3> foo2;// ERROR:
// 'arr2_ptr' is not a valid template argument of type 'const size_t*'
// {aka 'const long long unsigned int*'} because
// 'arr2.Array<long long unsigned int, 3>::data_' is not a variable
static constexpr const std::size_t* test = std::integral_constant<const std::size_t*, arr2_ptr>{};// ERROR:
// 'arr2_ptr' is not a valid template argument of type 'const long long unsigned int*' because
// 'arr2.Array<long long unsigned int, 3>::data_' is not a variable
return 0;
}
I don't understand why arr2.data_ is not reusable just like arr. Can someone explain ?
I'm using gcc: mingw-w64\x86_64-8.1.0-posix-sjlj-rt_v6-rev0
g++.exe -Wall -std=c++2a -fconcepts -O2
I want to share the answer i just found in open-std and a compliant solution.
We all know that we cannot pass any variable as non type.
Did you know that we can pass a const reference to anything we want ?!
So the solution is:
#include <array>
// When passing std::array<std::size_t, EltCount> (by value), i get the error:
// 'struct std::array<long long unsigned int, EltCount>' is not a valid type for a template non-type parameter
template <std::size_t EltCount, const std::array<std::size_t, EltCount>& Elts>
struct Foo {};
static constexpr std::array<std::size_t, 3> arr = {1, 2, 3};
int main()
{
Foo<3, arr> foo;// WORKING
return 0;
}
And the answer to the initial question is:
quote of the N4296
14.3.2 Template non-type arguments [temp.arg.nontype]
For a non-type template-parameter of reference or pointer type, the value of the constant expression shall not refer to (or for a pointer type, shall not be the address of): (1.1) — a subobject (1.8),
Moral of the story: we can do what we want with references, not with pointers.