Which constructor am I missing?

In this code:

Code:

---

class C
{
        public:
                explicit C() {};
                explicit C(const C& c) {};
                ~C() {};
};

C Create()
{
        return C();
}

---

I get the error (pointing at the return-part in Create()):

Quote:

---

error C2520: 'C::C' : no non-explicit constructor available for implicit conversion

---

What am I missing? Shouldn't the copy constructor be enough?

A constructor only needs to be qualified as explicit if it takes a single argument and you don't want implicit conversions to be made. You want implicit conversions with the copy constructor, or it'll be nearly useless. Just remove the explicit keyword from the default and copy constructors and it'll work fine.

Perhaps I'm missing something, but what implicit conversion is made in the code above?

Quote:

---

but what implicit conversion is made in the code above?

---

The one that I've colored red for you:

Code:

---

class C
{
        public:
                explicit C() {};
                explicit C(const C& c) {};
                ~C() {};
};

C Create()
{
        return C();
}

---

Converting from C to C is implicit? Even though I explicitly give a constructor for converting from C to C? I feel so confuzzled...

I thought impicit conversions was like having a class C with a member int i, then typing C c = 34; and the constructor automagically assigns the member variable to 34...

C() constructs a temporary instance of C with the default constructor. Where do you explicitly call the copy constructor? You don't, which is why it is implicit and you get the error. As Narf said you only explicit is only useful for single argument constructors (or constructors where all but one of the parameters have optional values).

Quote:

---

Converting from C to C is implicit? Even though I explicitly give a constructor for converting from C to C? I feel so confuzzled...

---

You call the default constructor explicitly, then pass it as a return value where the copy constructor is called implicitly behind the scenes. Just because a compiler might implement return value optimization doesn't mean you can suddenly break language rules. ;) At least, I assume you're confused because of return value optimization... If not, forget I mentioned it because it just confuses the point. :D