Expressions are categorized according to the taxonomy in Figure [fig:categories].
An lvalue (so called, historically, because lvalues could appear on the left-hand side of an assignment expression) designates a function or an object. [ Example: If E is an expression of pointer type, then *E is an lvalue expression referring to the object or function to which E points. As another example, the result of calling a function whose return type is an lvalue reference is an lvalue. — end example ]
An xvalue (an “eXpiring” value) also refers to an object, usually near the end of its lifetime (so that its resources may be moved, for example). An xvalue is the result of certain kinds of expressions involving rvalue references ([dcl.ref]). [ Example: The result of calling a function whose return type is an rvalue reference is an xvalue. — end example ]
A glvalue (“generalized” lvalue) is an lvalue or an xvalue.
An rvalue (so called, historically, because rvalues could appear on the right-hand side of an assignment expression) is an xvalue, a temporary object ([class.temporary]) or subobject thereof, or a value that is not associated with an object.
A prvalue (“pure” rvalue) is an rvalue that is not an xvalue. [ Example: The result of calling a function whose return type is not a reference is a prvalue. The value of a literal such as 12, 7.3e5, or true is also a prvalue. — end example ]
Every expression belongs to exactly one of the fundamental classifications in this taxonomy: lvalue, xvalue, or prvalue. This property of an expression is called its value category. [ Note: The discussion of each built-in operator in Clause [expr] indicates the category of the value it yields and the value categories of the operands it expects. For example, the built-in assignment operators expect that the left operand is an lvalue and that the right operand is a prvalue and yield an lvalue as the result. User-defined operators are functions, and the categories of values they expect and yield are determined by their parameter and return types. — end note ]
Whenever a glvalue appears in a context where a prvalue is expected, the glvalue is converted to a prvalue; see [conv.lval], [conv.array], and [conv.func]. [ Note: An attempt to bind an rvalue reference to an lvalue is not such a context; see [dcl.init.ref]. — end note ]
The discussion of reference initialization in [dcl.init.ref] and of temporaries in [class.temporary] indicates the behavior of lvalues and rvalues in other significant contexts.
Class prvalues can have cv-qualified types; non-class prvalues always have cv-unqualified types. Unless otherwise indicated ([expr.call]), prvalues shall always have complete types or the void type; in addition to these types, glvalues can also have incomplete types.
An lvalue for an object is necessary in order to modify the object except that an rvalue of class type can also be used to modify its referent under certain circumstances. [ Example: a member function called for an object ([class.mfct]) can modify the object. — end example ]
Functions cannot be modified, but pointers to functions can be modifiable.
A pointer to an incomplete type can be modifiable. At some point in the program when the pointed to type is complete, the object at which the pointer points can also be modified.
The referent of a const-qualified expression shall not be modified (through that expression), except that if it is of class type and has a mutable component, that component can be modified ([dcl.type.cv]).
If an expression can be used to modify the object to which it refers, the expression is called modifiable. A program that attempts to modify an object through a nonmodifiable lvalue or rvalue expression is ill-formed.
If a program attempts to access the stored value of an object through a glvalue of other than one of the following types the behavior is undefined:52
the dynamic type of the object,
a cv-qualified version of the dynamic type of the object,
a type similar (as defined in [conv.qual]) to the dynamic type of the object,
a type that is the signed or unsigned type corresponding to the dynamic type of the object,
a type that is the signed or unsigned type corresponding to a cv-qualified version of the dynamic type of the object,
an aggregate or union type that includes one of the aforementioned types among its elements or non-static data members (including, recursively, an element or non-static data member of a subaggregate or contained union),
a type that is a (possibly cv-qualified) base class type of the dynamic type of the object,
a char or unsigned char type.
The intent of this list is to specify those circumstances in which an object may or may not be aliased.