Question

If I have a constructor with n parameters such that any argument to that can be an rvalue and lvalue. Is it possible to do support this with move semantics for the rvalues without writing 2^n constructors for each possible rvalue/lvalue combination?

Answer 1

You take each one by value, like this:

struct foo
{
    foo(std::string s, bar b, qux q) :
    mS(std::move(s)),
    mB(std::move(b)),
    mQ(std::move(q))
    {}

    std::string mS;
    bar mB;
    qux mQ;
};

The initialization of the function parameters by the argument will either be a copy-constructor or move-constructor. From there, you just move the function parameter values into your member variables.

Remember: copy- and move-semantics are a service provided by the class, not by you. In C++0x, you no longer need to worry about how to get your own “copy” of the data; just ask for it and let the class do it:

foo f("temporary string is never copied", bar(), quz()); // no copies, only moves
foo ff(f.mS, f.mB, f.mQ); // copies needed, will copy
foo fff("another temp", f.mB, f.mQ); // move string, copy others

Note: your constructor only takes in values, those values will figure out how to construct themselves. From there, of course, it’s up to you to move them where you want them.

This applies everywhere. Have a function that needs a copy? Make it in the parameter list:

void mutates_copy(std::string s)
{
    s[0] = 'A'; // modify copy
}

mutates_copy("no copies, only moves!");

std::string myValue = "don't modify me";
mutates_copy(myValue); // makes copy as needed
mutates_copy(std::move(myValue)); // move it, i'm done with it

---

In C++03, you could emulate it fairly well, but it wasn’t common (in my experience):

struct foo
{
    foo(std::string s, bar b, qux q)
    // have to pay for default construction
    {
        using std::swap; // swaps should be cheap in any sane program

        swap(s, mS); // this is effectively what
        swap(b, mB); // move-constructors do now,
        swap(q, mQ); // so a reasonable emulation
    }

    std::string mS;
    bar mB;
    qux mQ;
};