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c++c++11nullptr

What are the uses of the type `std::nullptr_t`?

I learned that nullptr, in addition to being convertible to any pointer type (but not to any integral type) also has its own type std::nullptr_t. So it is possible to have a method overload that accepts std::nullptr_t.

Exactly why is such an overload required?

Solution

  • If more than one overload accepts a pointer type, an overload for std::nullptr_t is necessary to accept a nullptr argument. Without the std::nullptr_t overload, it would be ambiguous which pointer overload should be selected when passed nullptr.

    Example:

    void f(int *intp)
{
    // Passed an int pointer
}

void f(char *charp)
{
    // Passed a char pointer
}

void f(std::nullptr_t nullp)
{
    // Passed a null pointer
}