operator
What is the difference between
and
and what makes (&) necessary for the assignment related overloading?
return_type operator SYMBOL (argument)and
return_type &operator SYMBOL (argument)and what makes (&) necessary for the assignment related overloading?
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and how should I look at it?
1. return_type (&operator) SYMBOL (argument)
or
2. (return_type&) operator SYMBOL (argument)
1. return_type (&operator) SYMBOL (argument)
or
2. (return_type&) operator SYMBOL (argument)
As for the first one I have no clue, and will take it is another syntax of C++, whereas the second one (as far as I think) will hand over the reference of the return.
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Frankly speaking, there only difference is that in first case you will return a copy of an object, and in the second case - reference to it. It's not an requirement, but it's common practice to return reference to the rhs object from assignment or compound operators.
As for your second question, 2 is the correct way to look at it.
Also, consider something like this:
If you won't return a reference from operator=, you'll have a big overhead on calling copy constructors and temporary object creation. Most common implementation for the "reference" version is to add
But you can virtaully return almost anything from your operator.
As for your second question, 2 is the correct way to look at it.
Also, consider something like this:
x = y = z;If you won't return a reference from operator=, you'll have a big overhead on calling copy constructors and temporary object creation. Most common implementation for the "reference" version is to add
But you can virtaully return almost anything from your operator.
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