Local classes : C++03 vs. C++11

Question

Is there any change in the usage of local class in C++11?

It seems in C++03 local classes cannot be used as template argument (I recall that).

Consider this code,

template<typename T> void f(const T&) {}

//Note : S is a local class defined inside main()
int main() { struct S{};  f(S()); } //I want template argument to be deduced.

But it gives compilation error (C++03 mode), saying (ideone):

prog.cpp:4: error: no matching function for call to ‘f(main()::S)’

However, it compiles fine when compiling it in C++11 mode (ideone), which makes sense to me, otherwise lambda wouldn't work. So I guess that there is at least this change in the usage of local classes. Am I right? What are other changes concerning local classes?

Please quote the relevant text from the Standards (C++03 and C++11 both) so readers can compare themselves, and for future reference.

Answer 1

The differences are visible by comparing §14.3.1/2 in both standards.

• C++03

  A local type, a type with no linkage, an unnamed type or a type compounded from any of these types shall not be used as a template-argument for a template type-parameter. [Example:

  template <class T> class X { /* ... */ };
  void f()
  {
   struct S { /* ... */ };
   X<S> x3;        // error: local type used as template-argument
   X<S*> x4;        // error: pointer to local type used as template-argument
  }
  

  —end example] [Note: a template type argument may be an incomplete type (3.9). ]

• C++0x (n3290)

  [ Example:

  template <class T> class X { };
  template <class T> void f(T t) { }
  struct { } unnamed_obj;
  
  void f() {
   struct A { };
   enum { e1 };
   typedef struct { } B;
   B b;
   X<A> x1;        // OK
   X<A*> x2;       // OK
   X<B> x3;        // OK
   f(e1);          // OK
   f(unnamed_obj); // OK
   f(b);           // OK
  }
  

  — end example ] [ Note: A template type argument may be an incomplete type (3.9). — end note ]

C++03 explicitly disallows local classes in template type arguments. C++11 doesn't, and even includes an example of a valid use of such.

Answer 2

From older standard:

(14.3) A local type, a type with no linkage, an unnamed type or a type compounded from any of these types shall not be used as a template-argument for a template type-parameter.

It seems to be removed in the C++11 standard.

More restrictions:

(9.8) Declarations in a local class can use only type names, static variables, extern variables and functions, and enumerators from the enclosing scope.

(9.8) A local class shall not have member templates.

(14.5.4) A friend template shall not be declared in a local class.

(9.4.2 ) A local class shall not have static data members.

(9.3) Member functions of a local class (9.8) have no linkage.