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c++c++11enums
Devesh Agrawal
Devesh Agrawal

Reputation: 9212

Why doesn't defining a static enum cause a link time error?

I have used enum variable as static but not defined outside the class.

enum log_level_e
{
    error=1,
    warning,
    debug,
    trace
};


class Logger
{
    private:

        static mutex logger_mutex;

        Logger() {}
        ~Logger() {}
        Logger (const Logger& source);
        Logger& operator== (const Logger& source);
        static log_level_e loglevel;
        // functions and all
};

Ideally, it should give a link time error, but it's working fine without error. Why is it so? I am using a C++11 compiler.

Upvotes: 1

Views: 146

Answers (1)

Stefano Falasca
Stefano Falasca

Reputation: 9097

Because nobody is using it and the linker does not attempt to look for it. This gives you the "desired" error

class Logger
{
    public:
        Logger() {
            loglevel = warning;    
        }
        ~Logger() {}
    private:
        Logger (const Logger& source);
        Logger& operator== (const Logger& source);
        static log_level_e loglevel;
        // functions and all
};

Upvotes: 4

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