This is an unofficial snapshot of the ISO/IEC JTC1 SC22 WG21 Core Issues List revision 114a. See http://www.open-std.org/jtc1/sc22/wg21/ for the official list.

2024-04-18

194. Identifying constructors

According to 11.4.5 [class.ctor] paragraph 1, the syntax used in declaring a constructor allows at most one function-specifier. It is thus not permitted to declare a constructor both inline and explicit. This seems overly restrictive.

On a related note, there doesn't seem to be any explicit prohibition against member functions with the same name as the class. (Such a prohibition might reasonably be expected to occur in 11.4 [class.mem] paragraph 13, but member functions are not listed there.)

One possible interpretation would be that such member functions would violate the restrictions in 6.4.7 [basic.scope.class] paragraph 1, because the class name would refer to the class at some points in the class scope and to the member function at others. However, this seems a bit tenuous. Is an explicit prohibition needed?

(See also issue 147.)

Proposed resolution (10/00):

1. Add to 11.4 [class.mem] paragraph 13

   • every member function of class T [Note: this restriction does not apply to constructors, which do not have names (11.4.5 [class.ctor]). ];

   immediately following the line

   • every data member of class T;

2. Change 11.4.5 [class.ctor] paragraph 1 from

   A special declarator syntax using an optional function-specifier (9.2.3 [dcl.fct.spec])...

   to

   A special declarator syntax using an optional sequence of function-specifiers (9.2.3 [dcl.fct.spec])...