Proxy objects...

[barcaroller]

What are proxy objects used for in C++? Currently, the only use of proxy
objects I know of is that one can write one-liner code such as:

myobj.foo() (a,b) (c,d) (e,f) ;

where myobj.foo() returns a proxy object with an overloaded operator()
member function, which returns a reference to the proxy object itself. But
writing one-liners cannot be reason enough to use proxy objects.

 

[Kai-Uwe Bux]

What are proxy objects used for in C++? Currently, the only use of proxy
objects I know of is that one can write one-liner code such as:

myobj.foo() (a,b) (c,d) (e,f) ;

where myobj.foo() returns a proxy object with an overloaded operator()
member function, which returns a reference to the proxy object itself.
But writing one-liners cannot be reason enough to use proxy objects.

The following come to mind:

a) Matrix classes which support [][] notation have an operator[] which
returns a proxy.

b) std::vector<bool> uses proxy objects instead of references (since those
won't do the trick).

c) String classes and the like might return proxy objects (e.g., for
operator[]) instead of references in order to avoid/solve aliasing
problems. This can be useful for COW and reference counted implementations.


Best

Kai-Uwe Bux

 

[James Kanze]

What are proxy objects used for in C++? Currently, the only
use of proxy objects I know of is that one can write one-liner
code such as:

myobj.foo() (a,b) (c,d) (e,f) ;

where myobj.foo() returns a proxy object with an overloaded
operator() member function, which returns a reference to the
proxy object itself. But writing one-liners cannot be reason
enough to use proxy objects.

The two most frequent reasons I know of are for context
dependent implicit type conversions (where the proxy has a:
template< typename T > Proxy:perator T() const
function), and for distinguishing between lvalue and rvalue
accesses (where the proxy will have an implicit conversion to
the target type for rvalue accesses, and an operator= which
modifies the source, rather than the proxy, for lvalue
accesses).

I don't think I've ever seen a proxy used as you've described.

 

[barcaroller]

I don't think I've ever seen a proxy used as you've described.

boost:rogram_options

Example:

options_description desc("Allowed options");

desc.add_options()
("help", "help message")
("level", value<int>(), "set level");