std::as_const

 

C++

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Defined in header <utility>
template <class T> constexpr std::add_const_t<T>& as_const(T& t) noexcept;	(1)	(since C++17)
template <class T> void as_const(const T&&) = delete;	(2)	(since C++17)

1) Forms lvalue reference to const type of t

2) const rvalue reference overload is deleted to disallow rvalue arguments

Possible implementation

template <class T> constexpr std::add_const_t<T>& as_const(T& t) noexcept { return t; }

Example

Run this code

#include <string>
#include <cassert>
#include <utility>
#include <type_traits>
 
int main()
{
    std::string mutableString = "Hello World!";
    const std::string& constView = std::as_const(mutableString);
 
    assert( &constView == &mutableString );
    assert( &std::as_const( mutableString ) == &mutableString );
 
    using WhatTypeIsIt = std::remove_reference_t<decltype(std::as_const(mutableString))>;
 
    static_assert(std::is_same<std::remove_const_t<WhatTypeIsIt>, std::string>::value,
            "WhatTypeIsIt should be some kind of string." );
    static_assert(!std::is_same< WhatTypeIsIt, std::string >::value,
            "WhatTypeIsIt shouldn't be a mutable string." );
}

See also

is_const (C++11)	checks if a type is const-qualified (class template)
add_cvadd_constadd_volatile (C++11)(C++11)(C++11)	adds const or/and volatile specifiers to the given type (class template)
remove_cvremove_constremove_volatile (C++11)(C++11)(C++11)	removes const or/and volatile specifiers from the given type (class template)