devxlogo

Use private copy constructor and assignment operator to avoid object copying

Use private copy constructor and assignment operator to avoid object copying

If you don’t want users of your class to be able to assign objects of its type (password string objects are a good example), you can declare a private assignment operator and copy constructor. Please note that the compiler-synthesized copy constructor and assignment operator are public, therefore, you have to define them explicitly as private members in this case. For example:

 class NoCopy {private:NoCopy&  operator = (const NoCopy& other) { /*..*/}NoCopy(const NoCopy& other) {/*..*/}public://...};void f(){NoCopy nc; //fine, default constructor calledNoCopy nc2(nc); //compile time error; attempt to call a private copy constructornc2 = nc; //also a compile time error; operator= is private}
See also  Professionalism Starts in Your Inbox: Keys to Presenting Your Best Self in Email
devxblackblue

About Our Editorial Process

At DevX, we’re dedicated to tech entrepreneurship. Our team closely follows industry shifts, new products, AI breakthroughs, technology trends, and funding announcements. Articles undergo thorough editing to ensure accuracy and clarity, reflecting DevX’s style and supporting entrepreneurs in the tech sphere.

See our full editorial policy.

About Our Journalist