DOCERR: Description of C2354 Error Is Unclear

 Last reviewed: September 26, 1997
Article ID: Q147427
The information in this article applies to:
  • The Microsoft C/C++ Compiler (CL.EXE) included with: Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Edition, versions 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 5.0

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: 

   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.

Additional query words: vcbuglist400
Keywords : CPPIss
Version : WinNT:2.0,2.1,2.2,4.0,4.1,4.2,5.0
Platform : NT WINDOWS
Issue type : kbdocerr

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Last reviewed: September 26, 1997
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