Non-static member functions

A non-static member function is a function that is declared in a member specification of a class without a static or friend specifier (see static member functions and friend declaration for the effect of those keywords).

# Notes

Feature-test macro Value Std Feature __cpp_ref_qualifiers 200710L (C++11) ref-qualifiers __cpp_explicit_this_parameter 202110L (C++23) explicit object parameter (deducing this)

# Example

#include <exception>
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
#include <utility>
 
struct S
{
    int data;
 
    // simple converting constructor (declaration)
    S(int val);
 
    // simple explicit constructor (declaration)
    explicit S(std::string str);
 
    // const member function (definition)
    virtual int getData() const { return data; }
};
 
// definition of the constructor
S::S(int val) : data(val)
{
    std::cout << "ctor1 called, data = " << data << '\n';
}
 
// this constructor has a catch clause
S::S(std::string str) try : data(std::stoi(str))
{
    std::cout << "ctor2 called, data = " << data << '\n';
}
catch(const std::exception&)
{
    std::cout << "ctor2 failed, string was '" << str << "'\n";
    throw; // ctor's catch clause should always rethrow
}
 
struct D : S
{
    int data2;
    // constructor with a default argument
    D(int v1, int v2 = 11) : S(v1), data2(v2) {}
 
    // virtual member function
    int getData() const override { return data * data2; }
 
    // lvalue-only assignment operator
    D& operator=(D other) &
    {
        std::swap(other.data, data);
        std::swap(other.data2, data2);
        return *this;
    }
};
 
int main()
{
    D d1 = 1;
    S s2("2");
 
    try
    {
        S s3("not a number");
    }
    catch(const std::exception&) {}
 
    std::cout << s2.getData() << '\n';
 
    D d2(3, 4);
    d2 = d1;   // OK: assignment to lvalue
//  D(5) = d1; // ERROR: no suitable overload of operator=
}

# Defect reports

DRApplied toBehavior as publishedCorrect behavior
CWG 194C++98ambiguous whether a non-static member functioncould have the same name as the enclosing class nameexplicit naming restriction added

# See also