Special member functions in C++

All class types in C++ have a set of non-static special member functions. Among them is the constructor, destructor, copy constructor and copy assignment operator. In C++11, move semantics were introduced, and the move constructor and move assignment operator were introduced. Special member functions, when not defined explicitly, may be automatically generated by the compiler. But this is not always the case. Exactly when are they defined, and when not? What is the rule of all or zero? And is it any good? Did you know there are about eight different forms of constructors? And when it comes to copy/move operations, do you know when you need to implement them yourself? And how? In this session, I will guide you through the wonderful world of special member functions. We will look into definition rules, constructor forms, copy/move operations, implementation idioms, and testing of special member functions. Also, we will take a look at some commonly encountered situations involving special member functions, such as class state initialization/reinitialization, and how to create consistent implementations for these cases. As a C++ software engineer equipped with a clear understanding of special member functions, you will be more confident and effective.