Title
Exception specifications and const
Status
tc1
Section
14.5 [except.spec]
Submitter
Martin von Loewis

Created on 1999-06-08.00:00:00 last changed 263 months ago

Messages

Date: 2000-04-15.00:00:00

Proposed resolution (10/00):

Replace 14.5 [except.spec] paragraph 7 with the following:

A function is said to allow an exception of type E if its exception-specification contains a type T for which a handler of type T would be a match (14.4 [except.handle]) for an exception of type E.
Date: 2003-04-25.00:00:00

The standard is inconsistent about constness inside exception specifications.

    struct X {};
    struct Y:X {};

    const Y bar() {return Y();}

    void foo()throw(const X)
    {
      throw bar();
    }
It is unclear whether calling foo will result in a call to std::unexpected. According to 14.5 [except.spec] paragraph 7, only two cases are treated specially with regard to inheritance: If "class X" appears in the type-id-list, or if "class X*" appears in the type-id-list. Neither is the case here, so foo only allows exceptions of the same type (const X). As a result, std::unexpected should be called.

On the other hand, the intent of exception specification appears to allow an implementation of this example as

    void foo()
    try{
      throw bar();
    }catch(const X){
      throw;
    }catch(...){
      std::unexpected();
    }
According to 14.4 [except.handle] , this replacement code would catch the exception, so std::unexpected would not be called.

Suggested resolution: Change 14.5 [except.spec] paragraph 7 to read

A function is said to allow all exception objects of all types E for which one of the types T in the type-id-list would be a handler, according to 14.4 [except.handle] .
History
Date User Action Args
2003-04-25 00:00:00adminsetstatus: dr -> tc1
2000-11-18 00:00:00adminsetstatus: ready -> dr
2000-05-21 00:00:00adminsetmessages: + msg332
2000-05-21 00:00:00adminsetstatus: drafting -> ready
2000-02-23 00:00:00adminsetstatus: open -> drafting
1999-06-08 00:00:00admincreate