Preventing narrowing conversion when using std::initializer_list

Question

#include <iostream>

struct X {
    X(std::initializer_list<int> list) { std::cout << "list" << std::endl; }
    X(float f) { std::cout << "float" << std::endl; }
};

int main() {
    int x { 1.0f };
    X a(1);     // float (implicit conversion)
    X b{1};     // list
    X c(1.0f);  // float
    X d{1.0f};  // list (narrowing conversion) ARG!!!

    // warning: narrowing conversion of '1.0e+0f' from 'float' to 'int'
    // inside { } [-Wnarrowing]
}

Is there any other way of removing std::initializer_list from an overload list (i.e., making the non-list ctors more favorable) instead of using the ()-initialization, or at least prohibiting narrowing conversion to happen (apart from turning warning into error)?

I was using http://coliru.stacked-crooked.com/ compiler which uses GCC 4.8.

Answer 1

Actually, a program containing a narrowing conversion in a brace list initializer is ill-formed. I am not sure why the compiler just gives you a warning, but it definitely should issue an error here (FWIW, Clang does that).

Also notice, that this is a narrowing (and therefore illegal) conversion as well:

int x { 1.0f }; // ERROR! Narrowing conversion required

Per paragraph 8.5.4/3 of the C++11 Standard:

List-initialization of an object or reference of type T is defined as follows:

— If T is an aggregate, aggregate initialization is performed (8.5.1). [...]

— Otherwise, if the initializer list has no elements [...]

— Otherwise, if T is a specialization of std::initializer_list<E>, [...]

— Otherwise, if T is a class type, constructors are considered. The applicable constructors are enumerated and the best one is chosen through overload resolution (13.3, 13.3.1.7). If a narrowing conversion (see below) is required to convert any of the arguments, the program is ill-formed. [...]

To be more precise, the Standard only says that a "diagnostic" is required in this case, and a warning is a diagnostic, so the compiler's behavior is conforming - but I believe emitting an error would be a better behavior.

Answer 2

That looks like a compiler error. You should be getting an error instead of a warning. Brace initialization should never implicitly narrow.

From the standard (§ 8.5.4)

struct B {
  B(std::initializer_list<int>);
};
B b1 { 1, 2 }; // creates initializer_list<int> and calls constructor
B b2 { 1, 2.0 }; // error: narrowing