Difference between `constexpr` and `const`

Question

What\'s the difference between constexpr and const?

• When can I use only one of them?
• When can I use both and how should I

Answer 1

Overview

• const guarantees that a program does not change an object’s value. However, const does not guarantee which type of initialization the object undergoes.

  Consider:

  const int mx = numeric_limits::max();  // OK: runtime initialization
  

  The function max() merely returns a literal value. However, because the initializer is a function call, mx undergoes runtime initialization. Therefore, you cannot use it as a constant expression:

  int arr[mx];  // error: “constant expression required”
  

• constexpr is a new C++11 keyword that rids you of the need to create macros and hardcoded literals. It also guarantees, under certain conditions, that objects undergo static initialization. It controls the evaluation time of an expression. By enforcing compile-time evaluation of its expression, constexpr lets you define true constant expressions that are crucial for time-critical applications, system programming, templates, and generally speaking, in any code that relies on compile-time constants.

Constant-expression functions

A constant-expression function is a function declared constexpr. Its body must be non-virtual and consist of a single return statement only, apart from typedefs and static asserts. Its arguments and return value must have literal types. It can be used with non-constant-expression arguments, but when that is done the result is not a constant expression.

A constant-expression function is meant to replace macros and hardcoded literals without sacrificing performance or type safety.

constexpr int max() { return INT_MAX; }           // OK
constexpr long long_max() { return 2147483647; }  // OK
constexpr bool get_val()
{
    bool res = false;
    return res;
}  // error: body is not just a return statement

constexpr int square(int x)
{ return x * x; }  // OK: compile-time evaluation only if x is a constant expression
const int res = square(5);  // OK: compile-time evaluation of square(5)
int y = getval();
int n = square(y);          // OK: runtime evaluation of square(y)

Constant-expression objects

A constant-expression object is an object declared constexpr. It must be initialized with a constant expression or an rvalue constructed by a constant-expression constructor with constant-expression arguments.

A constant-expression object behaves as if it was declared const, except that it requires initialization before use and its initializer must be a constant expression. Consequently, a constant-expression object can always be used as part of another constant expression.

struct S
{
    constexpr int two();      // constant-expression function
private:
    static constexpr int sz;  // constant-expression object
};
constexpr int S::sz = 256;
enum DataPacket
{
    Small = S::two(),  // error: S::two() called before it was defined
    Big = 1024
};
constexpr int S::two() { return sz*2; }
constexpr S s;
int arr[s.two()];  // OK: s.two() called after its definition

Constant-expression constructors

A constant-expression constructor is a constructor declared constexpr. It can have a member initialization list but its body must be empty, apart from typedefs and static asserts. Its arguments must have literal types.

A constant-expression constructor allows the compiler to initialize the object at compile-time, provided that the constructor’s arguments are all constant expressions.

struct complex
{
    // constant-expression constructor
    constexpr complex(double r, double i) : re(r), im(i) { }  // OK: empty body
    // constant-expression functions
    constexpr double real() { return re; }
    constexpr double imag() { return im; }
private:
    double re;
    double im;
};
constexpr complex COMP(0.0, 1.0);         // creates a literal complex
double x = 1.0;
constexpr complex cx1(x, 0);              // error: x is not a constant expression
const complex cx2(x, 1);                  // OK: runtime initialization
constexpr double xx = COMP.real();        // OK: compile-time initialization
constexpr double imaglval = COMP.imag();  // OK: compile-time initialization
complex cx3(2, 4.6);                      // OK: runtime initialization

Tips from the book Effective Modern C++ by Scott Meyers about constexpr:

• constexpr objects are const and are initialized with values known during compilation;
• constexpr functions produce compile-time results when called with arguments whose values are known during compilation;
• constexpr objects and functions may be used in a wider range of contexts than non-constexpr objects and functions;
• constexpr is part of an object’s or function’s interface.

Source: Using constexpr to Improve Security, Performance and Encapsulation in C++.