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I want to refresh my memory on the conditions under which a compiler typically auto generates a default constructor, copy constructor and assignment operator.

I recollect there were some rules, but I don't remember, and also can't find a reputable resource online. Can anyone help?

In the following, "auto-generated" means "implicitly declared as defaulted, but not defined as deleted". There are situations where the special member functions are declared, but defined as deleted.

• The default constructor is auto-generated if there is no user-declared constructor (§12.1/5).


• The copy constructor is auto-generated if there is no user-declared move constructor or move assignment operator (because there are no move constructors or move assignment operators in C++03, this simplifies to "always" in C++03) (§12.8/8).


• The copy assignment operator is auto-generated if there is no user-declared move constructor or move assignment operator (§12.8/19).


• The destructor is auto-generated if there is no user-declared destructor (§12.4/4).

C++11 and later only:

• The move constructor is auto-generated if there is no user-declared copy constructor, copy assignment operator or destructor, and if the generated move constructor is valid (§12.8/10).


• The move assignment operator is auto-generated if there is no user-declared copy constructor, copy assignment operator or destructor, and if the generated move assignment operator is valid (e.g. if it wouldn't need to assign constant members) (§12.8/21).

I've found the diagram below very useful.

from Sticky Bits - Becoming a Rule of Zero Hero

C++17 N4659 standard draft

For a quick cross standard reference, have a look at the "Implicitly-declared" sections of the following cppreference entries:

• https://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/language/copy_constructor


• https://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/language/move_constructor


• https://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/language/copy_assignment


• https://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/language/move_assignment

The same information can of course be obtained from the standard. E.g. on C++17 N4659 standard draft:

15.8.1 "Copy/move constructors" says for for copy constructor:

6 If the class definition does not explicitly declare a copy constructor, a non-explicit one is declared implicitly.
If the class definition declares a move constructor or move assignment operator, the implicitly declared copy
constructor is defined as deleted; otherwise, it is defined as defaulted (11.4). The latter case is deprecated if
the class has a user-declared copy assignment operator or a user-declared destructor.

and for move constructor:

8 If the definition of a class X does not explicitly declare a move constructor, a non-explicit one will be implicitly
declared as defaulted if and only if

• (8.1)
  — X does not have a user-declared copy constructor,




• (8.2)
  — X does not have a user-declared copy assignment operator,




• (8.3)
  — X does not have a user-declared move assignment operator, and




• (8.4)
  — X does not have a user-declared destructor.

15.8.2 "Copy/move assignment operator" says for copy assignment:

2 If the class definition does not explicitly declare a copy assignment operator, one is declared implicitly.
If the class definition declares a move constructor or move assignment operator, the implicitly declared
copy assignment operator is defined as deleted; otherwise, it is defined as defaulted (11.4). The latter
case is deprecated if the class has a user-declared copy constructor or a user-declared destructor.

and for move assignment:

4 If the definition of a class X does not explicitly declare a move assignment operator, one will be implicitly
declared as defaulted if and only if

• (4.1) — X does not have a user-declared copy constructor,


• (4.2) — X does not have a user-declared move constructor,


• (4.3) — X does not have a user-declared copy assignment operator, and


• (4.4) — X does not have a user-declared destructor.

15.4 "Destructors" says it for destructors:

4 If a class has no user-declared destructor, a destructor is implicitly declared as defaulted (11.4). An
implicitly-declared destructor is an inline public member of its class.