DOC: Description of C2354 Error Is Unclear (147427)

Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions 2.0

Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions 2.1

Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions 2.2

Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions 4.0

Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions 4.1

Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Enterprise Edition 4.2

Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Enterprise Edition 5.0

Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Enterprise Edition 6.0

Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Professional Edition 4.2

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This article was previously published under Q147427

SUMMARY

Neither the error message itself nor the online documentation for the C2354 compiler error clearly specify the cause of this error:

'reference' : initialization of reference member requires a temporary variable

MORE INFORMATION

It is illegal to initialize a reference member of a class in the class's constructor with a temporary variable. An attempt to do so generates the C2354 error, as illustrated by this sample code:

Sample Code

int temp() { return 1; }

class Test
{
public:
    int member;
    int& ref_member;
    Test();
};

Test::Test() : ref_member( temp() )
{
}

When this error is encountered, the solution is to change the code so that the reference member is not initialized to a temporary variable. The reference must be initialized to an object that will exist for the lifetime of the reference member.

Modification Type:

Major

Last Reviewed:

12/9/2003

Keywords:

kbbug kbCompiler kbCPPonly kbdocerr kbOLDocs KB147427