This is an unofficial snapshot of the ISO/IEC JTC1 SC22 WG21 Core Issues List revision 115d. See http://www.open-std.org/jtc1/sc22/wg21/ for the official list.
2024-10-26
[Accepted as a DR at the June, 2024 meeting.]
Consider:
export module Foo;
class X {
friend void f(X); // #1 linkage?
};
Subclause 11.8.4 [class.friend] paragraph 4 gives #1 external linkage:
A function first declared in a friend declaration has the linkage of the namespace of which it is a member (6.6 [basic.link]).
(There is no similar provision for friend classes first declared in a class.)
However, 6.6 [basic.link] bullet 4.8 gives it module linkage:
... otherwise, if the declaration of the name is attached to a named module (10.1 [module.unit]) and is not exported (10.2 [module.interface]), the name has module linkage;
Subclause 10.2 [module.interface] paragraph 2 does not apply:
A declaration is exported if it is declared within an export-declaration and inhabits a namespace scope or it is
- a namespace-definition that contains an exported declaration, or
- a declaration within a header unit (10.3 [module.import]) that introduces at least one name.
Also consider this related example:
export module Foo; export class Y; // maybe many lines later, or even a different partition of Foo class Y { friend void f(Y); // #2 linkage? };
See issue 2607 for a similar question about enumerators.
Additional note (May, 2022):
Forwarded to EWG with paper issue 1253, by decision of the CWG chair.
EWG telecon 2022-06-09
Consensus: "A friend's linkage should be affected by the presence/absence of export on the containing class definition itself, but ONLY if the friend is a definition", pending confirmation by electronic polling.
Proposed resolution (June, 2022) (approved by CWG 2023-01-27) [SUPERSEDED]:
Change in 6.6 [basic.link] paragraph 4 as follows:
... The name of an entity that belongs to a namespace scope that has not been given internal linkage above and that is the name ofhas its linkage determined as follows:
- a variable; or
- a function; or
- a named class (11.1 [class.pre]), or an unnamed class defined in a typedef declaration in which the class has the typedef name for linkage purposes (9.2.4 [dcl.typedef]); or
- a named enumeration (9.7.1 [dcl.enum]), or an unnamed enumeration defined in a typedef declaration in which the enumeration has the typedef name for linkage purposes (9.2.4 [dcl.typedef]); or
- an unnamed enumeration that has an enumerator as a name for linkage purposes (9.7.1 [dcl.enum]); or
- a template
- if the entity is a function or function template first declared in a friend declaration and that declaration is a definition, the name has the same linkage, if any, as the name of the enclosing class (11.8.4 [class.friend]);
- otherwise, if the entity is a function or function template declared in a friend declaration and a corresponding non-friend declaration is reachable, the name has the linkage determined from that prior declaration,
- otherwise, if the enclosing namespace has internal linkage, the name has internal linkage;
- otherwise, if the declaration of the name is attached to a named module (10.1 [module.unit]) and is not exported (10.2 [module.interface]), the name has module linkage;
- otherwise, the name has external linkage.
Remove 11.8.4 [class.friend] paragraph 4:
A function first declared in a friend declaration has the linkage of the namespace of which it is a member (6.6 [basic.link]). Otherwise, the function retains its previous linkage (9.2.2 [dcl.stc]).
EWG electronic poll 2022-06
Consensus for "A friend's linkage should be affected by the presence/absence of export on the containing class definition itself, but ONLY if the friend is a definition (option #2, modified by Jason's suggestion). This resolves CWG2588." See vote.
Proposed resolution (approved by CWG 2024-03-20):
Change in 6.6 [basic.link] paragraph 4 as follows:
... The name of an entity that belongs to a namespace scope that has not been given internal linkage above and that is the name ofhas its linkage determined as follows:
- a variable; or
- a function; or
- a named class (11.1 [class.pre]), or an unnamed class defined in a typedef declaration in which the class has the typedef name for linkage purposes (9.2.4 [dcl.typedef]); or
- a named enumeration (9.7.1 [dcl.enum]), or an unnamed enumeration defined in a typedef declaration in which the enumeration has the typedef name for linkage purposes (9.2.4 [dcl.typedef]); or
- an unnamed enumeration that has an enumerator as a name for linkage purposes (9.7.1 [dcl.enum]); or
- a template
- if the entity is a function or function template first declared in a friend declaration and that declaration is a definition and the enclosing class is defined within an export-declaration, the name has the same linkage, if any, as the name of the enclosing class (11.8.4 [class.friend]);
- otherwise, if the entity is a function or function template declared in a friend declaration and a corresponding non-friend declaration is reachable, the name has the linkage determined from that prior declaration,
- otherwise, if the enclosing namespace has internal linkage, the name has internal linkage;
- otherwise, if the declaration of the name is attached to a named module (10.1 [module.unit]) and is not exported (10.2 [module.interface]), the name has module linkage;
- otherwise, the name has external linkage.
Remove 11.8.4 [class.friend] paragraph 4:
A function first declared in a friend declaration has the linkage of the namespace of which it is a member (6.6 [basic.link]). Otherwise, the function retains its previous linkage (9.2.2 [dcl.stc]).