I have been looking over the Sockets C++ library and found a class member with the following member definition for a sockaddr.
This member is public, but I have *no* idea how to access it. Could somebody provide some insight on what this is?Code:virtual operator struct sockaddr *() = 0;
That is a conversion function. It allows you to convert an object of the class type (or in this case, a derived class type) to a struct sockaddr*, e.g., via a cast.
Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart WayOriginally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
Ahhhh! Very cool, thank you! What is the advantage of using a conversion function versus a template, in this case?
How would you use a template here? The alternative to a conversion function is to write a function with some other name, e.g., to_sockaddr_ptr, that performs the same conversion more explicitly.
Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
I realized that almost the second I posted it. Templating would make sense for defining the input method, not for doing the dynamic return typing (ie. conversion).
Thanks!
It should be noted that this opens up a bag of worms.
I can take that class and do
my_class a, b;
a - b;
Doesn't make sense, but because of that conversion operator, it works. It compiles.
It may or may not. It depends on the rest of the operators involved.Doesn't make sense, but because of that conversion operator, it works. It compiles.
Soma
