c++: fwd referene + perfect fwd

3 files changed, 85 insertions, 1 deletions

diff --git a/src/development/c++.md b/src/development/c++.md
index 6cdc251..655a603 100644
--- a/src/development/c++.md
+++ b/src/development/c++.md
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 # c++
 
+Source files of most examples is available [here][src-examples].
+
 ## Type deduction
 
 Force compile error to see what `auto` is deduced to.
@@ -16,6 +18,27 @@ typename decltype(foo)::_;
 {{#include c++/meta.cc:3:}}
 ```
 
+## Forwarding reference ([fwd ref][fwd-ref])
+
+A `forwarding reference` is a special references that preserves the `value
+category` of a function parameter and therefore allows for `perfect`
+forwarding.
+
+A forwarding reference is a parameter of a function template, which is declared
+as `rvalue` reference to a `non-cv` qualified `type` template parameter.
+```cpp
+template<typename T>
+void fn(T&& param); // param is a forwarding reference
+```
+
+Perfect forwarding can be achieved with [`std::forward`][std-fwd]. This for
+example allows a wrapper function to pass a parameter with the **exact** same
+value category to a down-stream function which is being invoked in the wrapper.
+
+```cpp
+{{#include c++/fwd.cc:3:}}
+```
+
 ## Example: `any_of` template meta function
 
 ```cpp
@@ -74,3 +97,6 @@ A more detailed description is available in the SO discussion [How does
 [parameter-pack]: https://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/language/parameter_pack
 [enable-if]: https://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/types/enable_if
 [sfinae]: https://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/language/sfinae
+[fwd-ref]: https://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/language/reference#Forwarding_references
+[std-fwd]: https://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/utility/forward
+[src-examples]: https://github.com/johannst/notes/tree/master/src/development/c%2B%2B
diff --git a/src/development/c++/Makefile b/src/development/c++/Makefile
index ca752d9..36065e4 100644
--- a/src/development/c++/Makefile
+++ b/src/development/c++/Makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-SRC = concepts-11.cc meta.cc meta2.cc meta4.cc tmpl-pair.cc tmpl-void_t.cc
+SRC = concepts-11.cc meta.cc meta2.cc meta4.cc tmpl-pair.cc tmpl-void_t.cc fwd.cc
 BIN = $(SRC:.cc=)
 
 all: $(BIN)
diff --git a/src/development/c++/fwd.cc b/src/development/c++/fwd.cc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..802d5bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/development/c++/fwd.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+// Copyright (C) 2023 johannst
+
+#include <cstdio>
+#include <utility>
+
+struct M {};
+
+// -- CONSUMER -----------------------------------------------------------------
+
+void use(M&) {
+    puts(__PRETTY_FUNCTION__);
+}
+
+void use(M&&) {
+    puts(__PRETTY_FUNCTION__);
+}
+
+// -- TESTER -------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+template<typename T>
+void wrapper(T&& param) {  // forwarding reference
+    puts(__PRETTY_FUNCTION__);
+    // PARAM is an lvalue, therefore this always calls use(M&).
+    use(param);
+}
+
+template<typename T>
+void fwd_wrapper(T&& param) {  // forwarding reference
+    puts(__PRETTY_FUNCTION__);
+    // PARAM is an lvalue, but std::forward returns PARAM with the same value
+    // category as the forwarding reference takes.
+    use(std::forward<T>(param));
+}
+
+// -- MAIN ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+int main() {
+    {
+        std::puts("==> wrapper rvalue reference");
+        wrapper(M{});
+        // calls use(M&).
+
+        std::puts("==> wrapper lvalue reference");
+        struct M m;
+        wrapper(m);
+        // calls use(M&).
+    }
+    {
+        std::puts("==> fwd_wrapper rvalue reference");
+        fwd_wrapper(M{});
+        // calls use(M&&).
+
+        std::puts("==> fwd_wrapper lvalue reference");
+        struct M m;
+        fwd_wrapper(m);
+        // calls use(M&).
+    }
+}