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c++c++11access-modifiersdeleted-functions

Deletion of copy-ctor & copy-assignment - public, private or protected?

In order to make an object non-copiable we can explicitly delete both its copy-constructor and copy-assignment operator.

My question is: What is the right place to do it - in the public, private or protected section of the class? And - does this choice make any difference?

Solution

  • what is the right place to do it - in the public, private or protected section of the class?

    I would put them in the public section.

    This is because deleting a constructor or an assignment operator is orthogonal to making them private / protected; and when these aren't deleted, they are public by default. Putting the deletions in one of those two sections seems to me like hinting "If I hadn't deleted them, I would have made them private/protected" - which is not a message you want to convey in your case.

    Note, though, that the compiler doesn't care which section you put the deletion in.