"operator bool() const"的含义是什么？

Question

例如：

operator bool() const 
{ 
    return col != 0; 
}

col 是一个整数。 operator bool() const 如何工作？

- Cheng

Answer 1

形式为成员函数

operator TypeName()

这里提到了类型转换运算符，它们允许将类类型的对象用作TypeName类型，并在使用时通过转换函数转换为TypeName类型。

在这种情况下，operator bool() 允许将类类型的对象用作bool。例如，如果你有一个名为obj的类类型对象，你可以将其用作：

if (obj)

这将调用operator bool()，返回结果，并使用该结果作为if的条件。

需要注意的是，operator bool()是一种非常糟糕的做法，您真的不应该使用它。关于为什么它是不好的以及解决该问题的方法的详细说明，请参见“安全布尔类型惯用法”。

（C++0x，即将发布的C++标准的修订版，添加了对显式转换运算符的支持。这将允许您编写一个安全的explicit operator bool()，而无需经历实现安全布尔类型惯用法的艰辛过程。）

- James McNellis

---

“used as if it were a bool”错误地暗示您可以将其分配为布尔值。相反，在帖子的代码中，它生成一个临时变量，类型为bool，与col的瞬时值相关，但此后独立于创建它的对象。此外，提到安全布尔惯用语很好，但只是为了注册存在相反的观点：在我看来，“从未真正使用它”的建议过于严格——它以更加混淆的API为代价提供了更严格的编译器检查，这可能导致意外的误用。 - Tony Delroy

@Tony：嗯，它可以像bool一样使用；由于转换的结果是一个rvalue(bool)，所以不能对其进行赋值。如果它是一个可修改的lvalue（例如bool&），那么就可以对其进行赋值。至于正确性，我认为operator bool()总是不正确的，因为它允许在大量情况下使用类类型对象，而你从来不想让它被使用。安全布尔(Safe Bool)是一个更优秀的替代选择。 - James McNellis

所以根据最后一段的说法，今天使用 explicit operator bool() 是完全可以的。我的理解正确吗？ - Zingam

C++委员会似乎不同意您关于operator bool()的看法。至少对于最新版本的标准来说是这样的（例如http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/utility/optional）。或者您是指只有STL代码才允许使用它？ - Joe Steele

@JoeSteele - 请参阅 https://dev59.com/62855IYBdhLWcg3wUCWC#16615725。显式转换运算符是安全的！ - Benjamin Bihler

Answer 2

我希望能提供更多的代码来使它更加清晰。

struct A
{
    operator bool() const { return true; }
};

struct B
{
    explicit operator bool() const { return true; }
};

int main()
{
    A a1;
    if (a1) cout << "true" << endl; // OK: A::operator bool()
    bool na1 = a1; // OK: copy-initialization selects A::operator bool()
    bool na2 = static_cast<bool>(a1); // OK: static_cast performs direct-initialization

    B b1;     
    if (b1) cout << "true" << endl; // OK: B::operator bool()
    // bool nb1 = b1; // error: copy-initialization does not consider B::operator bool()
    bool nb2 = static_cast<bool>(b1); // OK: static_cast performs direct-initialization
}

- selfboot

---

“explicit” 的使用是一个不错的建议。它有助于防止在赋值时出现意外转换。 - Stefano Buora

Answer 3

operator bool() const 
{
    return col != 0;
}

定义类如何转换为布尔值，()后的const用于指示此方法不会改变该类的成员。

通常使用这样的运算符：

airplaysdk sdkInstance;
if (sdkInstance) {
    std::cout << "Instance is active" << std::endl;
} else {
    std::cout << "Instance is in-active error!" << std::endl;
}

- langerra.com

Answer 4

这是一个用户自定义的 implicit 转换函数，将您的类转换为 true 或 false。

//usage
bool value = yourclassinstance; //yourclassinstance is converted into bool!

- Nawaz

Answer 5

就像其他人所说的那样，它是用于类型转换的，在这种情况下是转换为bool。例如：

class A {
    bool isItSafe;

public:
    operator bool() const
    {
        return isItSafe;
    }

    ...
};

现在我可以像使用布尔值一样使用这个类的对象：

A a;
...
if (a) {
    ....
}

- chrisaycock

Answer 6

这是一个隐式转换到 bool 的过程。也就是说，在允许隐式转换的任何地方，通过调用该方法，您的类都可以被转换为 bool。

- Billy ONeal

Answer 7

在编写我自己的 unique_ptr 时，我发现了这个案例。考虑到 std::unique_ptr 的 operator==，如下所示：std::unique_ptr's operator==。

template<class T1, class D1, class T2, class D2>
bool operator==(const unique_ptr<T1, D1>& x, const unique_ptr<T2, D2>& y);

template <class T, class D>
bool operator==(const unique_ptr<T, D>& x, nullptr_t) noexcept;

template <class T, class D>
bool operator==(nullptr_t, const unique_ptr<T, D>& x) noexcept;

而这个测试用例来自于 libstdcxx：

  std::unique_ptr<int> ptr;
  if (ptr == 0)
    { }
  if (0 == ptr)
    { }
  if (ptr != 0)
    { }
  if (0 != ptr)
    { }

请注意，因为ptr具有explicit operator bool() const noexcept;，所以operator overload resolution在这里可以正常工作，例如，ptr == 0会被选择。

 template <class T, class D>
 bool operator==(const unique_ptr<T, D>& x, nullptr_t) noexcept;`.

如果这里没有 explicit 关键字，ptr == 0 中的 ptr 将被转换为 bool，然后 bool 将被转换为 int，因为内置了 bool operator==(int, int)，而 0 是 int。我们等待的是模棱两可的重载决议错误。

这里有一个最小完整可验证示例：

#include <cstddef>
struct A
{
    constexpr A(std::nullptr_t) {}
    operator bool() 
    {
        return true;
    }
};

constexpr bool operator ==(A, A) noexcept
{
    return true;
}

constexpr bool operator ==(A, std::nullptr_t) noexcept
{
    return true;
}

constexpr bool operator ==(std::nullptr_t, A) noexcept
{
    return true;
}

int main()
{
    A a1(nullptr);
    A a2(0);
    a1 == 0;
}

gcc：

prog.cc: In function 'int main()':
prog.cc:30:8: error: ambiguous overload for 'operator==' (operand types are 'A' and 'int')
   30 |     a1 == 0;
      |     ~~ ^~ ~
      |     |     |
      |     A     int
prog.cc:30:8: note: candidate: 'operator==(int, int)' <built-in>
   30 |     a1 == 0;
      |     ~~~^~~~
prog.cc:11:16: note: candidate: 'constexpr bool operator==(A, A)'
   11 | constexpr bool operator ==(A, A) noexcept
      |                ^~~~~~~~
prog.cc:16:16: note: candidate: 'constexpr bool operator==(A, std::nullptr_t)'
   16 | constexpr bool operator ==(A, std::nullptr_t) noexcept
      |                ^~~~~~~~

C语言：

prog.cc:30:8: error: use of overloaded operator '==' is ambiguous (with operand types 'A' and 'int')
    a1 == 0;
    ~~ ^  ~
prog.cc:16:16: note: candidate function
constexpr bool operator ==(A, std::nullptr_t) noexcept
               ^
prog.cc:11:16: note: candidate function
constexpr bool operator ==(A, A) noexcept
               ^
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(int, int)
    a1 == 0;
       ^
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(float, int)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(double, int)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long double, int)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(__float128, int)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(int, float)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(int, double)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(int, long double)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(int, __float128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(int, long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(int, long long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(int, __int128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(int, unsigned int)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(int, unsigned long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(int, unsigned long long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(int, unsigned __int128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long, int)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long long, int)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(__int128, int)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned int, int)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned long, int)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned long long, int)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned __int128, int)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(float, float)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(float, double)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(float, long double)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(float, __float128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(float, long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(float, long long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(float, __int128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(float, unsigned int)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(float, unsigned long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(float, unsigned long long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(float, unsigned __int128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(double, float)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(double, double)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(double, long double)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(double, __float128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(double, long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(double, long long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(double, __int128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(double, unsigned int)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(double, unsigned long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(double, unsigned long long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(double, unsigned __int128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long double, float)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long double, double)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long double, long double)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long double, __float128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long double, long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long double, long long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long double, __int128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long double, unsigned int)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long double, unsigned long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long double, unsigned long long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long double, unsigned __int128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(__float128, float)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(__float128, double)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(__float128, long double)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(__float128, __float128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(__float128, long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(__float128, long long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(__float128, __int128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(__float128, unsigned int)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(__float128, unsigned long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(__float128, unsigned long long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(__float128, unsigned __int128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long, float)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long, double)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long, long double)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long, __float128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long, long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long, long long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long, __int128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long, unsigned int)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long, unsigned long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long, unsigned long long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long, unsigned __int128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long long, float)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long long, double)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long long, long double)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long long, __float128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long long, long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long long, long long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long long, __int128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long long, unsigned int)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long long, unsigned long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long long, unsigned long long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(long long, unsigned __int128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(__int128, float)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(__int128, double)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(__int128, long double)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(__int128, __float128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(__int128, long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(__int128, long long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(__int128, __int128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(__int128, unsigned int)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(__int128, unsigned long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(__int128, unsigned long long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(__int128, unsigned __int128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned int, float)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned int, double)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned int, long double)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned int, __float128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned int, long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned int, long long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned int, __int128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned int, unsigned int)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned int, unsigned long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned int, unsigned long long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned int, unsigned __int128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned long, float)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned long, double)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned long, long double)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned long, __float128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned long, long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned long, long long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned long, __int128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned long, unsigned int)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned long, unsigned long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned long, unsigned long long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned long, unsigned __int128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned long long, float)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned long long, double)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned long long, long double)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned long long, __float128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned long long, long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned long long, long long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned long long, __int128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned long long, unsigned int)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned long long, unsigned long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned long long, unsigned long long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned long long, unsigned __int128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned __int128, float)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned __int128, double)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned __int128, long double)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned __int128, __float128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned __int128, long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned __int128, long long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned __int128, __int128)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned __int128, unsigned int)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned __int128, unsigned long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned __int128, unsigned long long)
prog.cc:30:8: note: built-in candidate operator==(unsigned __int128, unsigned __int128)
1 error generated.

- Chen Li

Answer 8

另一个常见的用途是让std容器在自定义对象内部的键值上进行相等比较。

class Foo
{
    public: int val;
};

class Comparer { public:
bool operator () (Foo& a, Foo&b) const {
return a.val == b.val; 
};

class Blah
{
std::set< Foo, Comparer > _mySet;
};

- user2945260

---

这个例子使用的是 operator () 而不是 operator bool。它们是完全不同的。operator () 是调用运算符，使得一个 Comparer 可以被当作函数来调用。那个 operator () 恰好返回了 bool，但这并不意味着它和 operator bool 是相同的，后者只允许隐式转换为 bool。 - Michael Dorst