std::vector init with braces call copy constructor twice

Question

Why when I init std::vector with braces

std::vector<TS> vec {ts1, ts2};

Compiler call twice copy constructor operator? On the other hand - with push_back it called only once.

#include <iostream>
#include <vector>
using namespace std;

struct TS{
    TS(){
        cout<<"default constructor\n";
    }

    TS(const TS &other) {
        cout<<"Copy constructor\n";
    }

    TS(TS &&other) noexcept{
        cout<<"Move constructor\n";
    }

    TS& operator=(TS const& other)
    {
        cout<<"Copy assigment\n";
        return *this;
    }

    TS& operator=(TS const&& other) noexcept
    {
        cout<<"Move assigment\n";
        return *this;
    }

    ~TS(){
        cout<<"destructor\n";
    }

};

int main() {
    TS ts1;
    TS ts2;
    cout<<"-----------------------------------------\n";
    std::vector<TS> vec {ts1, ts2};
    //vec.push_back(ts1);
    //vec = {ts1, ts2};
    cout<<"-----------------------------------------\n";



    return 0;
}

http://ideone.com/qcPG7X

Answer 1

From what I understand, initializer_lists pass everything by const-reference. It is probably not safe to move from one. The initializer_list constructor of a vector will copy each of the elements.

Here are some links: initializer_list and move semantics

No, that won't work as intended; you will still get copies. I'm pretty surprised by this, as I'd thought that initializer_list existed to keep an array of temporaries until they were move'd.

begin and end for initializer_list return const T *, so the result of move in your code is T const && — an immutable rvalue reference. Such an expression can't meaningfully be moved from. It will bind to an function parameter of type T const & because rvalues do bind to const lvalue references, and you will still see copy semantics.

Is it safe to move elements of a initializer list?

initializer_list only provides const access to its elements. You could use const_cast to make that code compile, but then the moves might end up with undefined behaviour (if the elements of the initializer_list are truly const). So, no it is not safe to do this moving. There are workarounds for this, if you truly need it.

Can I list-initialize a vector of move-only type?

The synopsis of in 18.9 makes it reasonably clear that elements of an initializer list are always passed via const-reference. Unfortunately, there does not appear to be any way of using move-semantic in initializer list elements in the current revision of the language.

questions regarding the design of std::initializer_list

From section 18.9 of the C++ Standard:

An object of type initializer_list provides access to an array of objects of type const E. [ Note: A pair of pointers or a pointer plus a length would be obvious representations for initializer_list. initializer_list is used to implement initializer lists as specified in 8.5.4. Copying an initializer list does not copy the underlying elements. — end note ]

I think the reason for most of these things is that std::initializer_list isn't actually a container. It doesn't have value semantics, it has pointer semantics. Which is made obvious by the last portion of the quote: Copying an initializer list does not copy the underlying elements. Seeing as they were intended solely for the purpose of initializing things, I don't think it's that surprising that you don't get all the niceties of more robust containers such as tuples.

If I understand the last part correctly, it means that two sets of copies are needed since initializer_list does not copy the underlying elements. (The previous quote is only relevant if you attempt to use an initializer_list without copying out the elements.)

What is the underlying structure of std::initializer_list?

No, you can't move from the elements of an initializer_list, since elements of an initializer_list are supposed to be immutable (see the first sentence of the paragraph quoted above). That's also the reason why only const-qualified member functions give you access to the elements.

---

If you want, you can use emplace_back:

vec.emplace_back(TS());
vec.emplace_back(TS());
vec.push_back(std::move(ts1));
vec.push_back(std::move(ts2));

Answer 2

Because you have two elements there.

Answer 3

In the code you have provided, with Microsoft compiler, the copy constructor for TS when it is in the vector initializer list will be called only once!

TS ts1;  // contructor called
std::vector<TS> vec {ts1};  // copy constructor called. Only once.

If you create an object in the initializer list, it will do both:

std::vector<TS> vec {TS()}; // constructor, then copy constructor called

In the second case, if you have a number of objects, all constructors will be called first, then all copy contructors.