returning a variable's name as a string

[oG8U7k9E]

Is there a function or a way to write a function that will return the name of a variable as a string?

What I want is to create a function which when given the name of an integer would print both the name of the parameter as a string and the value of that parameter to my terminal.

It seems easy but I cannot figure out to do it.

[Disch]

Variable names are simply for your conveinience. They do not (or rather, may not) exist in the final executable.

So no, what you're wanting to do is not possible in C++*. If you want to print a string, you need to keep track of a string as a variable.


*it may technically be possible if you exploit the generated debugging symbols produced by the compiler -- so if you want to be hypertechnical it's possible, but not practical


EDIT:

There are ways to work around this. For instance rather than using just an int, use a struct/class that has both an int and a string. So you can manipulate the int and print the string.

[Hammurabi]

You could use a macro. I would only suggest this for debugging purposes, though:

#define SHOW(a) std::cout << #a << ": " << (a) << std::endl
// ...
int i = 2;
SHOW (i);

[helios]

Hey, I like that macro. If you don't mind, I'm going to improve it just a little:
#define TO_STREAM(stream,variable) (stream) <<#variable": "<<(variable)

EDIT: It really is a shame that C++ doesn't have any reflective support.

[Disch]

Oh hey that's something I hadn't thought of! Probably because I like never use macros XD

Nifty.

[oG8U7k9E]

Hammurabi,

I am using it for debugging and It works like a dream. Thank you so much.

[Hammurabi]

Here's an interesting (?) variation:

#include <iostream>

#define _(x) std::cout << #x << std::endl; x

int main() {
    _(int i = 0;)
    _(i = 1;)
    _(std::cout << i;)
}