c++visual-studioconstructorinitializationvariable-initialization

What's the difference between Radio r = Radio("PSR", 100.8) and Radio("PSR", 100.8)?


I'm new to C++ and trying to understand something. I have this code in my main.cpp:

Radio r = Radio("PSR", 100.8);

or that code:

Radio r("PSR", 100.8);

Both seem to work and doing the same thing. So what's the difference?


Solution

  • Radio r = Radio("PSR", 100.8); is copy initialization while Radio r("PSR", 100.8); is direct initialization.

    C++17

    From C++17 due to mandatory copy elison both are the equivalent.

    Radio r = Radio("PSR", 100.8); //from C++17 this is same as writing Radio r("PSR", 100.8);
    

    Prior C++17

    But prior to C++17, the first case Radio r = Radio("PSR", 100.8); may result in the creation of a temporary using which r is copy initialized. This is because prior to C++17, there was non-mandatory copy elison.


    Another thing to note is that if you were to write:

    type name(); //this is a function declaration
    

    the above is a declaration for a function named name which has the return type of type and has 0 parameters.