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c++templatesc++11clangfriend

templated friend function lookup


The following simple code compiles fine

class A {
  int x[3];
public:
  A() { x[0]=1; x[1]=2; x[2]=3; }
  friend int const&at(A const&a, unsigned i) noexcept
  {
    return a.x[i];
  }
  friend int foo(A const&a, unsigned i) noexcept
  {
    int tmp = at(a,i);
    return tmp*tmp;
  }
};

but if the friends are made templates

class A {
  int x[3];
public:
  A() { x[0]=1; x[1]=2; x[2]=3; }

  template<unsigned I>
  friend int const&at(A const&a) noexcept
  {
    static_assert(I<3,"array boundary exceeded");
    return a.x[I];
  }

  template<unsigned I>
  friend int foo(A const&a) noexcept
  {
    int tmp = at<I>(a);   // <- error: use of undeclared identifier 'at'
    return tmp*tmp;
  }
};

the look-up rules change and clang complains with said error, but gcc and icpc don't. Who is right (C++11)? and how to get the code fixed for clang?


Solution

  • The fix is to separate declaration and definition:

    class A {
      int x[3];
    public:
      A() { x[0]=1; x[1]=2; x[2]=3; }
    
      template<unsigned I>
      friend int const&at(A const&a) noexcept;
    
      template<unsigned I>
      friend int foo(A const&a) noexcept;
    };
    
    template<unsigned I>
    int const&at(A const&a) noexcept
    {
      static_assert(I<3,"array boundary exceeded");
      return a.x[I];
    }
    
    template<unsigned I>
    int foo(A const&a) noexcept
    {
      int tmp = at<I>(a);
      return tmp*tmp;
    }