Question

[All of the following was tested using Visual Studio 2008 SP1]

In C++, const qualification of parameter types does not affect the type of a function (8.3.5/3: "Any cv-qualifier modifying a parameter type is deleted")

So, for example, in the following class hierarchy, Derived::Foo overrides Base::Foo:

struct Base
{
    virtual void Foo(const int i) { }
};

struct Derived : Base
{
    virtual void Foo(int i) { }
};

Consider a similar hierarchy in C++/CLI:

ref class Base abstract
{
public:
    virtual void Foo(const int) = 0;
};

ref class Derived : public Base
{
public:
    virtual void Foo(int i) override { }
};

If I then create an instance of Derived:

int main(array<System::String ^> ^args)
{
    Derived^ d = gcnew Derived;
}

it compiles without errors or warnings. When I run it, it throws the following exception and then terminates:

An unhandled exception of type ‘System.TypeLoadException’ occurred in ClrVirtualTest.exe

Additional information: Method ‘Foo’ in type ‘Derived’…does not have an implementation.

That exception seems to indicate that the const qualification of the parameter does affect the type of the function in C++/CLI (or, at least it affects overriding in some way). However, if I comment out the line containing the definition of Derived::Foo, the compiler reports the following error (on the line in main where the instance of Derived is instantiated):

error C2259: ‘Derived’: cannot instantiate abstract class

If I add the const qualifier to the parameter of Derived::Foo or remove the const qualifier from the parameter of Base::Foo, it compiles and runs with no errors.

I would think that if the const qualification of the parameter affects the type of the function, I should get this error if the const qualification of the parameter in the derived class virtual function does not match the const qualification of the parameter in the base class virtual function.

If I change the type of Derived::Foo‘s parameter from an int to a double, I get the following warning (in addition to the aforementioned error, C2259):

warning C4490: ‘override’: incorrect use of override specifier; ‘Derived::Foo’ does not match a base ref class method

So, my question is, effectively, does the const qualification of function parameters affect the type of the function in C++/CLI? If so, why does this compile and why are there no errors or warnings? If not, why is an exception thrown?

Answer 1

Well, it’s a bug. The const modifiers is emitted into the metadata with the modopt custom modifier. Unfortunately, the C++/CLI language rules do not match the CLI rules. Chapter 7.1.1 of the CLI spec says:

Custom modifiers, defined using modreq
(“required modifier”) and modopt
(“optional modifier”), are similar to
custom attributes (§21) except that
modifiers are part of a signature
rather than being attached to
adeclaration. Each modifer associates
a type reference with an item in the
signature.

The CLI itself shall treat required
and optional modifiers in the same
manner. Two signatures that differ
only by the addition of a custom
modifier (required or optional) shall
not be considered to match. Custom
modifiers have no other effect on the
operation of the VES.

So, the CLR says that Derived::Foo() is not a override, C++/CLI says it is. The CLR wins.

You could report the bug at connect.microsoft.com but it probably a waste of time. I think this incompatibility was intentional. They should have changed the language rules for C++/CLI but surely thought C++ compatibility to be more important. CV modifiers are a pain anyway, there are other scenarios that are not well supported, const pointers to const for one. This cannot be enforced at runtime anyway, the CLR has no support for it.