c++vectorconstantsoverloadingpush-back

why is there a "no instance of overloaded function matches the argument list" error when attempting vector push_back?


I am doing an assignment for a C++ class and I am getting an error when using push back with vector. I honestly cannot find any info on why this isnt working and giving me a "no instance of overloaded function" error

 class StudentData {

    class StudyModule {
    private:
        const int studyModuleCode;
        const std::string studyModuleName;
    public:
        StudyModule();
        StudyModule(const StudyModule& copy);
        ~StudyModule();
    };

    private:
        const int studentNumber;
        std::string studentName;
        std::vector<StudyModule*> modules;
    public:
        StudentData();
        StudentData(const StudentData& copy);
        ~StudentData();
        void addModules(const StudyModule& module);
        int howManyModules();
};



void StudentData::addModules(const StudyModule& module)
{
    this->modules.push_back(&module);
}

Solution

  • The function addModules() is declared like this:

    void addModules(const StudyModule& module);
    

    that is, its parameter is a reference to const object.

    But the vector has a pointer to a non-const object as its template argument:

    std::vector<StudyModule*> modules;
    

    Thus, the compiler issues a message for this statement:

    this->modules.push_back(&module);
    

    because the expression &module has the type const StudyModule *, ie a pointer to a const object.

    Even if you would change the template argument of the vector like this:

    std::vector<const StudyModule *> modules;
    

    your approach will be unsafe, because the user can pass a temporary object of type StudyModule to the function. In this case, storing a pointer to this object in the vector will become invalid when the temporary object is destroyed afterwards.