Search code examples
c++stlc++17std-byte

Correct way to initialize a container of std::byte


What is the correct way of initializing a container with predetermined std::byte values?

std::array<std::byte, 2> arr{0x36, 0xd0} for array results in

Enum std::byte has not constant to represent the integer value of X

and compiler errors. Vector and initializer lists are a no-go too.

Is std::vector with std::copy and casts really the intended way of handling this?


Solution

  • You will have to write std::byte{0x36}, because there is no implicit conversion from an int to a enum class.

    std::array<std::byte, 2> arr = {std::byte{0x36}, std::byte{0xd0}};
    

    If you don't want to write std::byte every single time, write a helper function:

    template<typename... Ts>
    std::array<std::byte, sizeof...(Ts)> make_bytes(Ts&&... args) noexcept {
        return{std::byte(std::forward<Ts>(args))...};
    }
    
    auto arr = make_bytes(0x36, 0xd0);