Insert into vector having objects without copy constructor

Question

I have a class whose copy constructors are explicitly deleted (because A uses pointers internally and I don't want to fall into shallow copy pitfalls):

class A {
  public:
    A(const A&) = delete;
    A& operator=(const A&) = delete;

    A(const B& b, const C& c);
}

Now I have a vector of type vector<A> aVector; and I want to insert elements into it - so I use emplace_back:

aVector.emplace_back(b, c);

However, this fails to compile using gcc and I get the error -

third-party/gcc-4.7.1-glibc-2.14.1/libgcc/libgcc-4.7.1/afc21dc/include/c++/4.7.1/bits/stl_construct.h: In instantiation of 'void std::_Construct(_T1*, _Args&& ...)
third-party/gcc-4.7.1-glibc-2.14.1/libgcc/libgcc-4.7.1/afc21dc/include/c++/4.7.1/bits/stl_uninitialized.h:77:3:   required from 'static _ForwardIterator std::__uninitialized_copy<_TrivialValueTypes>::__uninit_copy(_InputIterator, _InputIterator, _ForwardIterator)  
third-party/gcc-4.7.1-glibc-2.14.1/libgcc/libgcc-4.7.1/afc21dc/include/c++/4.7.1/bits/stl_uninitialized.h:119:41:   required from '_ForwardIterator std::uninitialized_copy(_InputIterator, _InputIterator, _ForwardIterator) 
third-party/gcc-4.7.1-glibc-2.14.1/libgcc/libgcc-4.7.1/afc21dc/include/c++/4.7.1/bits/stl_uninitialized.h:260:63:   required from '_ForwardIterator std::__uninitialized_copy_a(_InputIterator, _InputIterator, _ForwardIterator, std::allocator<_Tp>&) 
third-party/gcc-4.7.1-glibc-2.14.1/libgcc/libgcc-4.7.1/afc21dc/include/c++/4.7.1/bits/stl_uninitialized.h:283:67:   required from '_ForwardIterator std::__uninitialized_move_if_noexcept_a(_InputIterator, _InputIterator, _ForwardIterator, _Allocator&)
third-party/gcc-4.7.1-glibc-2.14.1/libgcc/libgcc-4.7.1/afc21dc/include/c++/4.7.1/bits/vector.tcc:410:6:   required from 'void std::vector<_Tp, _Alloc>::_M_emplace_back_aux(_Args&& ...) 
third-party/gcc-4.7.1-glibc-2.14.1/libgcc/libgcc-4.7.1/afc21dc/include/c++/4.7.1/bits/vector.tcc:102:4:   required from 'void std::vector<_Tp, _Alloc>::emplace_back(_Args&& ...)

What is the reason for this error and how can it be fixed without removing the deletion of the copy constructors? Do I need a move constructor - does it need to be explicitly defined?

Claiborn

How do you define A(const B& b, const C& c); ? – Baffle

I've hit this same issue myself, and for me it was because of copy-elision fulfillment. The copy-ctor had to be provided, but was never called. I just tested your layout, and experienced the same issue your showing here using clang-500.2.79 on my Mac. Providing a copy-ctor allowed it to compile, but never invoked the implemented copy-ctor. Likewise with providing a move-ctor. I'd have to dust off the question history to find the related question. Once you hit an expansion point in the vector, move-construction will be invoked if available, so you best add it regardless. – Raguelragweed

You should add move constructor - because emplace_back of vector may do relocation which requires copy/move constructor. Or just use std::deque. – Grandchild

Answer 1

You should add move constructor - because std::vector::emplace_back may do relocation which requires copy/move constructor. Or just use std::deque.

LIVE DEMO

#include <vector>
#include <deque>
using namespace std;

struct NoCopyNoMove
{
    NoCopyNoMove(const NoCopyNoMove&) = delete;
    NoCopyNoMove& operator=(const NoCopyNoMove&) = delete;
    NoCopyNoMove(NoCopyNoMove&&) = delete;
    NoCopyNoMove& operator=(NoCopyNoMove&&) = delete;

    NoCopyNoMove(int){};
};

struct OnlyMove
{
    OnlyMove(const OnlyMove&) = delete;
    OnlyMove& operator=(const OnlyMove&) = delete;
    OnlyMove(OnlyMove&&) noexcept {}
    OnlyMove& operator=(OnlyMove&&) noexcept {}

    OnlyMove(int){};
};

int main()
{
    deque<NoCopyNoMove> x;
    x.emplace_back(1);

    vector<OnlyMove> y;
    y.emplace_back(1);
}

---

§ 23.2.3 Table 101 — Optional sequence container operations

a.emplace_back(args) [...]

Requires: T shall be EmplaceConstructible into X from args. For vector, T shall also be MoveInsertable into X.

Grandchild

std::deque doesn't appear to work when the copy constructor from the class inherited from was deleted. I don't have access to the source I'm working with, but commenting out the use of adding objects from that class to std::vector and std::deque stops the error, "Error C2280 'ClassName::ClassNameConstructor(const ClassName &)': attempting to reference a deleted function" Same goes for std::list – Tobacco

However, it seems I was able to work around this with pointers. I made a pointer per object, and made a group of those pointers. Not the best workaround but I'll take what works! – Tobacco

Readers should note that the noexcept specifier on the move-constructor and move-assignment is important here – Bouldin

Answer 2

The error is not the fault of emplace_back. To put an object in a vector it must be movable or copyable. If you actually run the code with copy constructor implemented you will notice it is never called. This is an entry on cppreference.com

What I would do to fix this is implement the move constructor, that makes it compile and I can't see any really drawback to having a move constructor. And as with the cctor the move constructor will not be called in your current code.

Sybille

+1 that would support everything I've seen as well. – Raguelragweed

@Raguelragweed I would find a standard quote but sometimes that thing just gives me headaches – Sybille

FWIW, the most recent version of std::vector documentation doesn't mention the requirement that elements are MoveConstructible or MoveAssignable any more. They only need to be Erasable. – Dante

Answer 3

Just want to add to @kayleeFrye_onDeck's answer. I have a near identical situation to theirs, and the exact syntax that works for me (based on the feedback in the comments) is as follows:

vector< std::unique_ptr<ClassName> > names; // Declare vector of unique_ptrs of the class instance

std::unique_ptr<ClassName> name_ptr = std::make_unique<ClassName>();
names.push_back(std::move(name_ptr)); // Need to use std::move()

// Now you can access names objects without error:
names[0]->classMethod();

Imprisonment

Answer 4

I ran into this problem with an external library's class. I was getting,

"Error C2280 ClassName::ClassName(const ClassName &)': attempting to reference a deleted function"

I'm guessing that the class I was using had deleted its copy constructor. I couldn't add it to any std containers I knew of for my custom derived-class objects, which wrapped their object with some helpers of mine to help with initialization/error checks.

I worked around this blocker with (risky) pointers.

Basically, I transitioned to this:

std::vector<ClassName*> names;
ClassName name("arg");
ClassName name_ptr = &name;
names.push_back(name_ptr);

from this, originally:

std::vector<ClassName> names;
ClassName name("arg");
names.push_back(name);

Interesting to say, this was the first time coding with C++ that I've actually needed to use pointers for non-pointer-specific usage requirements due to no known alternative. That makes me worry that I may missed something fundamental within my own code.

Maybe there's a better way to do this, but it's not on this question's list of answers yet...

edit for Caveat:

I should have mentioned this before, thanks aschepler; if you do this and the container you're using outlives the object, "bang, you're dead."

Tobacco

But if the lifetime of the vector is longer than the lifetime of the object you put in it, bang, you're dead. – Quadrivium

You sure are. But hey, I'm very open to alternatives :) I didn't find any... Thanks again for reminding me to add the warning to my answer. – Tobacco

You could improve your code by having a vector of unique_ptr which you created using make_unique – Bouldin

Is this what you meant, @Bouldin by swapping it out with line 3 of the first snippet? std::unique_ptr<ClassName> name_ptr = std::make_unique<ClassName>(name); – Tobacco