C++: String member alias in method

Question

My constructor:

bnf::bnf(string encoded)
{
    this->encoded = encoded;
}

copies the string data to a member. (Or does it..?)

I will have a recursive decode method, but would like to avoid writing this->encoded all the time.

How can I validly and simply create an alias/reference to the member within a method?

Will this have overhead best avoided?

Answer 1

You can just pass in a different named parameter. This is assuming that encoded is a private string member of your bnf class

bnf::bnf(string en)
{
    encoded = en;
}

In your other functions, you still don't need to write this if you don't want to:

void bnf::printCode(){
     cout << encoded << endl;
}

Assuming your class looks like this:

class bnf{
    public:
         bnf(string en};
         void printCode();
         //<some other functions>
    private:
         string encoded;
}