Thread: Overloading assignment operators

I've had a bit of a google for overloading the assignment operator, and it seems pretty decent. I'm a bit confused about using constant references and all that but I'll learn. What I'd like to know is how to overload with a common data type. For example, I'd like to overload "char *" so that assigning a static string to a char pointer just copies the text. Ie:

Code:

char *chTemp=new char[256];
chTemp="Text";
delete [] chTemp;

I know I'll run into problems here, seeing as chTemp now points to a location within module memory (or whatever it's called), and I'm attempting to delete a block that is somewhere else.

I know I can just use strcpy(), but I seems such a waste of time. Could anyone show me how to overload "char *" for this purpose?

Primitive or built-in datatypes cann´t be overloaded.

Isn't there some way I could duplicate the type, or make a class that operated in the same way? I don't mind specifying a different type instead of char *, as long as it acts the same way(except for what I'm trying to change!). Ie:

Code:

bStr=(bStr)new char[256];
bStr="Text";
delete [] bStr;

Any chance?

>> Primitive or built-in datatypes cann´t be overloaded.

What he said.


>> I'm a bit confused about using constant references and all that but I'll learn.

When your argument will not (and should not) be modified, then you use a const reference. It will protect the original data from being changed, and remove the overhead of copying. Also, if a user-defined object is not copyable (private copy cinstructor and operator=), then it cannot be passed by value, and must be passed by reference.

Originally posted by bennyandthejets
Isn't there some way I could duplicate the type, or make a class that operated in the same way? I don't mind specifying a different type instead of char *, as long as it acts the same way(except for what I'm trying to change!). Ie:

Code:

bStr=(bStr)new char[256];
bStr="Text";
delete [] bStr;

Any chance?

You could define your own string type.... or, you could use the std::string class in <string>