fix(guide): move guide to english directory
This commit is contained in:
committed by
mrugesh mohapatra
parent
3a270cab98
commit
73a97354e1
@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
|
||||
---
|
||||
title: The Auto Feature
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## The Auto Feature
|
||||
|
||||
`auto` is a C++11 feature that lets the compiler infer the data type for us in a definition.
|
||||
|
||||
Without `auto`
|
||||
```cpp
|
||||
double x = 10.425;
|
||||
double y = x * x;
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
With `auto`
|
||||
```cpp
|
||||
double x = 10.425;
|
||||
auto y = x * x;
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
Whilst it may seem trivial, it becomes incredibly useful when data types begin to get complicated. For example, if a user wanted to store a vector of employees that had their name and age. One way to store the name and age could be a `pair` with a `string` and an `unsigned int`. This is represented as `std::vector<std::pair<std::string, unsigned int>> employees`. Now suppose we wanted to access the last employee added:
|
||||
|
||||
```cpp
|
||||
std::vector<std::pair<std::string, unsigned int>> employees;
|
||||
|
||||
// without auto
|
||||
std::pair<std::string, unsigned int>> last_employee = employees.back();
|
||||
|
||||
// with auto
|
||||
auto last_employee = employees.back();
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
Once the compiler determines the type on the right side of the `=` it replaces `auto` with that type.
|
||||
|
||||
### `auto` before C++11
|
||||
In some old textbooks containing _very_ old code, the keyword `auto` is used in a very different manner.
|
||||
|
||||
This particular `auto` was a keyword borrowed from C, and was probably the least used keyword of all time.
|
||||
|
||||
In C++, all variables have _automatic duration_, that is, they are defined until you get out of the function they're defined in.
|
||||
|
||||
For example:
|
||||
|
||||
```cpp
|
||||
#include <iostream>
|
||||
|
||||
int main()
|
||||
{
|
||||
int a;
|
||||
a = 1; //makes sense, as it was defined in the same function
|
||||
|
||||
return 0;
|
||||
}
|
||||
a = 2; //makes no sense, since a isn't defined here
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
This is a given in C++, and `auto` specified that the variable should have an _automatic duration_, hence the lack of use.
|
||||
|
||||
## Further Reading :
|
||||
* http://www.stroustrup.com/C++11FAQ.html#auto
|
Reference in New Issue
Block a user