Initializer-list for initializing 2D std::array member

Question

How to initialize a nested (2D) std::array via an initializer-list?

template <std::size_t W, std::size_t H>
class Block
{
    std::array<std::array<int, W>, H> block;
public:

    template <typename ...E>
    Block(E&&...e) : block {{std::forward<E>(e)...}} {}
};

The class Block should able to initialize block member as below:

Block<3, 2> b {{ {1, 2, 3}, {4, 5, 6} }};

---

Note: We have the ability to initialize the std::array directly in C++11:

std::array<std::array<int, 3>, 2> b {{ {1, 2, 3}, {4, 5, 6} }};

I'm using gcc-4.9.0

Answer 1

The rules for braces are very complicated when it comes to nested structures.

The simplest form in your code would be this:

Block<3, 2> b {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6};

That basically omits all the inner braces — these omissions are allowed by the language.

The next syntax, which is slightly complex, is this:

Block<3, 2> b {{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}};

It still omits braces, but as far as Block and as its member is concerned it is FULLY braced. It omits braces for the array and its members.

And this one is FULLY braced:

Block<3, 2> b {{{ {{1, 2,3}}, {{4,5,6}} }}}; 

It braces for all inner structures.

All forms compiles fine.

See my other answer for detailed explanation:

• When can outer braces be omitted in an initializer list?

Answer 2

It may be to do with the interpretation of the standard being overly capricious with the number of braces required to initialize std::array. This fully braced version compiles without issues on GCC 4.8.1:

Block<3, 2> b {
               {
                { 
                 { {1, 2, 3} }, { {4, 5, 6} } 
                }
               }
              }; 

Strangely, this version compiles too:

  Block<3, 2> b { 
                 {{ {1, 2, 3}, {4, 5, 6} } }
                };