Temporary Materialization in C++ 17

C++ is a popular programming language that is widely used in the development of system software, application software, game engines, and more. One of the most significant improvements in C++17 is the introduction of temporary materialization, a feature that helps reduce the complexity of code and improve performance. In this article, we will learn about this feature with the help of examples.

The emergence of temporary objects in C++17 is marked by the automatic creation of objects as needed by the language, without any explicit command to initiate their creation. Unlike the previous version, only when an expression resulted in a temporary object were such entities created; however, in C++17, their creation can occur in a broader range of circumstances.

Application of the temporary materialization

In C++, applications of temporary materialization are mentioned below:

• Prvalue (pure rvalue) expressions are passed to a function or operator that expects an lvalue reference.
• Objects that are returned from a function by value.
• Objects that are initialized using an initializer list.

Example 1: 

// C++ Program to demonstrate use of temporary
// materialization in C++17.
#include <iostream>
#include <string>

std::string foo() { return "Hello"; }

void bar(const std::string& str)
{
    std::cout << str << std::endl;
}

int main()
{
    bar(foo() + " world!");
    return 0;
}

Hello world!

Explanation of the above program:

In this example, Upon calling the foo() function within the main() function, a fleeting std::string entity comprising the phrase 'Hello' is produced. By using the operator to combine this temporary std::string with the 'world', yet another momentary std::string entity is generated to accommodate the combined outcome. The const std::string parameter of the bar() function is supplied with an ephemeral std::string entity that is generated and sent as an input argument.

Example 2: 

// C++ Program to demonstrate use of use of the temporary
// materialization in C++17.

#include <iostream>
#include <string>

using namespace std;

string getName() { return "GeeksforGeeks"; }

int main()
{
    cout << getName() << endl;

    const string& name = getName();
    cout << name << endl;

    return 0;
}

GeeksforGeeks
GeeksforGeeks

Explanation of the above program:

In the above example, the std::string object can be obtained through the usage of the getName() function. Specifically, by utilizing the line cout << getName() << endl; we are able to directly output the returned string value. Moreover, creating a constant reference to the getName() function's return value can be done with the line const string, thus allowing for further manipulation.
Creating a constant reference name would have been impossible if the std::string object had been destroyed before initialization, which is only possible with the presence of Temporary Materialization in C++17.

Advantages of Temporary Materialization

The advantages of using Temporary Materialization are mentioned below:

• Avoiding unnecessary object copies: With temporary materialization, it is possible to avoid making unnecessary copies of objects. This can lead to significant performance improvements, particularly when working with large objects.
• Improved code readability: Using temporary materialization can lead to more readable code. It can eliminate the need for complicated workarounds to avoid copying objects, making code more straightforward and easier to understand.
• Better type safety: By preventing the creation of temporaries of non-const references, temporary materialization can help improve type safety. This can prevent a wide range of errors and make it easier to write robust and reliable code.
• Improved code optimization: Temporary materialization can help improve code optimization by providing the compiler with additional information about the program's behavior. This can lead to more effective code generation and better performance.