17 Language support library [support]

17.6 Dynamic memory management [support.dynamic]

17.6.5 Pointer optimization barrier [ptr.launder]

template<class T> [[nodiscard]] constexpr T* launder(T* p) noexcept;

Mandates: !is_function_v<T> && !is_void_v<T> is true.

Preconditions: p represents the address A of a byte in memory.

An object X that is within its lifetime and whose type is similar to T is located at the address A.

All bytes of storage that would be reachable through the result are reachable through p (see below).

Returns: A value of type T* that points to X.

Remarks: An invocation of this function may be used in a core constant expression whenever the value of its argument may be used in a core constant expression.

A byte of storage b is reachable through a pointer value that points to an object Y if there is an object Z, pointer-interconvertible with Y, such that b is within the storage occupied by Z, or the immediately-enclosing array object if Z is an array element.

[Note 1:

If a new object is created in storage occupied by an existing object of the same type, a pointer to the original object can be used to refer to the new object unless its complete object is a const object or it is a base class subobject; in the latter cases, this function can be used to obtain a usable pointer to the new object.

See [basic.life].

— end note]

[Example 1: struct X { int n; }; const X *p = new const X{3}; const int a = p->n; new (const_cast<X*>(p)) const X{5}; // p does not point to new object ([basic.life]) because its type is const const int b = p->n; // undefined behavior const int c = std::launder(p)->n; // OK — end example]