Question

In the code below Node_T is a std::shared_ptr, element_type will be Node< T,U >, and this type has member called root_;

Is there a way to shorten somehow this: Node_T::element_type::root_ to just root_?

template<class Node_T>
const Node_T& root(Node_T& node)
    {
        Node_T::element_type::root_ = node;
        while (Node_T::element_type::root_->parent_)
        {

            Node_T::element_type::root_ = Node_T::element_type::root_->parent_;

        }

        return Node_T::element_type::root_;
    }

Answer 1

If you are using C++0x; then the first line of function root(Node_T&) can be,

auto &root_ = Node_T::element_type::root_;
// use root_ now onwards