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# constant initialization

From cppreference.com
< cpp‎ | language

Sets the initial values of the static constants

### [edit] Syntax

`static` T `&` ref `= constexpr;` | (1) |
`static` T object `= constexpr;` | (2) |

### [edit] Explanation

Constant initialization is performed after zero initialization of the static and thread-local objects and before all other initialization. Only the following variables are constant initialized:

1) Static or thread-local references, if it is bound to static lvalue, to a temporary, or to a function. and if every expression (including implicit conversions) in the initializer of the reference is a constant expression.
2) Static or thread-local object of class type that is initialized by a constructor call, if the constructor is constexpr and all constructor arguments (including implicit conversions) are constant expressions, and if the initializers in the constructor's initializer list and the brace-or-equal initializers of the class memebers only contain constant expressions.
3) Static or thread-local object (not necessarily of class type), that is not initialized by a constructor call, if the object is value-initialized or if every expression in its initializer is a constant expression.

The effects of constant initialization are the same as the effects of the corresponding initialization, except that it's guaranteed that it is complete before any other initialization of a static or thread-local object begins, and it may be performed at compile time.

The object that was initialized by constant initialization can be used in constant expressions, e.g. in an array declaration.

### [edit] Notes

The compiler is permitted to initialize other static and thread-local objects using constant initialization, if it can guarantee that the value would be the same as if the standard order of initialization was followed. Such objects can be used in constant expressions, but this use is not portable.

### [edit] Example

Run this code

    #include <iostream>
    #include <array>

    struct S {
        static const int c;
    };
    const int d = 10 * S::c; // not a constant expression: S::c has no preceding
                             // initializer, this initialization happens after const
    const int S::c = 5;      // constant initialization, guaranteed to happen first
    int main()
    {
        std::cout << "d = " << d << '\n';
        std::array<int, S::c> a1; // OK: S::c is a constant expression
    //  std::array<int, d> a2;    // error: d is not a constant expression
    }

Output:

    d = 50

### [edit] See also

- constexpr specifier
- zero initialization

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