Conversion of lambda expression to function pointer

Question

This is a follow up question to this question: Lambda how can I pass as a parameter

MSDN supposedly has marked the item as fixed. I took a look at the specifications, but I'm having trouble converting their specifications into what the syntax should be.

So for example:

void printOut(int(*eval)(int)) {     for(int x = 0; x < 4; ++x)     {         std::cout << eval(x) << std::endl;     } } 

Now say I have the lambda:

auto lambda1 = [](int x)->int{return x;}; 

What is the syntax to convert lambda1 into the functional pointer equivalent so it can be passed to printOut?

Also, what about lambdas which actually have something in the brackets? For example:

int y = 5; auto lambda2 = [y](void)->int{return y;}; 

If this kind of lambda can't be converted to a function pointer, is there an alternative method for passing this type of lambda expression to printOut (or even a modified version of printOut, if so what's the syntax)?

Answer 1

There is no syntax per se, it's an implicit conversion. Simply cast it (explicitly or implicitly) and you'll get your function pointer. However, this was fixed after Visual Studio 2010 was released, so is not present.^†

---

You cannot make a capture-full lambda into a function pointer ever, as you noted, so it's the function printOut that'll have to change. You can either generalize the function itself:

// anything callable template <typename Func> void printOut(Func eval)  {     // ... } 

Or generalize the function type in particular:

// any function-like thing that fits the int(int) requirement void printOut(std::function<int(int)> eval)  {     // ... } 

Each has their own trade-off.

---

†As far as I know, it's unknown of we'll get it in a service pack, or if we need to wait until a new release.