Static member in header-only library

Question

I'm creating header-only library and I have to use static member.
Is it possible to define it in the header file without redefinition warning?

Answer 1

Assuming you're talking about a static data member, since a static function member is no problem, there are various techniques for different cases:

• Simple integral type, const, address not taken:
  Give it a value in the declaration in the class definition. Or you might use an enum type.

• Other type, logically constant:
  Use a C++11 constexpr.

• Not necessarily constant, or you can't use constexpr:
  Use the templated static trick, or a Meyers' singleton.

Example of Meyers' singleton:

class Foo
{
private:
    static
    auto n_instances()
        -> int&
    {
         static int the_value;
         return the_value;
    }
public:
    ~Foo() { --n_instances(); }
    Foo() { ++n_instances(); }
    Foo( Foo const& ) { ++n_instances(); }
};

Example of the templated statics trick:

template< class Dummy >
struct Foo_statics
{
    static int n_instances;
};

template< class Dummy >
int Foo_statics<Dummy>::n_instances;

class Foo
    : private Foo_statics<void>
{
public:
    ~Foo() { --n_instances; }
    Foo() { ++n_instances; }
    Foo( Foo const& ) { ++n_instances; }
};

Disclaimer: no code touched by a compiler.