Why does a quoted string match bool method signature before a std::string?

Question

Given the following methods:

// Method 1
void add(const std::string& header, bool replace);

//Method 2
void add(const std::string& name, const std::         


        

Answer 1

In your case you have has overloaded functions. Overloading resolution occurs according to Section 13.3.

C++03 13.3.3.2/2:

When comparing the basic forms of implicit conversion sequences (as defined in 13.3.3.1)
— a standard conversion sequence (13.3.3.1.1) is a better conversion sequence than a user-defined conversion sequence or an ellipsis conversion sequence, and
— a user-defined conversion sequence (13.3.3.1.2) is a better conversion sequence than an ellipsis conversion sequence (13.3.3.1.3).

Conversion pointer into bool is a standard conversion. Conversion pointer into std::string is a user-defined conversion.

4.12 Boolean conversions An rvalue of arithmetic, enumeration, pointer, or pointer to member type can be converted to an rvalue of type bool. A zero value, null pointer value, or null member pointer value is converted to false; any other value is converted to true.