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c++c++11in-class-initialization

Retrieve default value of in-class initialized member


Is there any way of directly retrieving the default value of a member, which has been defined using in-class initialization? For example:

struct Test
{
    int someValue = 5;
};

int main(int argc,char *argv[])
{
    auto val = declvalue(Test::someValue); // Something like this; Should return 5
    std::cout<<val<<std::endl;
    for(;;);
    return 0;
}

Basically something that 'copies' (Similar to decltype) the entire declaration, including the default value. Does something like that exist?


Solution

  • If your type is default constructible, you can write your own declvalue:

    template<typename T, typename C>
    constexpr T declvalue(T C::* ptr)
    {
        return C{}.*ptr;
    }
    

    which would be used as follows:

    int main() {
        cout << declvalue(&Test::someValue) << endl;
    }
    

    live demo

    This particular case seems to optimize well, but I suggest wariness.