[sharonyue]

Hi guys,

please see this code:

tmp<fvScalarMatrix> pEqnComp1;

.......................

fluid.dgdt() =
            (
                alpha1*(pEqnComp2 & p)
              - alpha2*(pEqnComp1 & p)
            );

complete codes here:
https://github.com/OpenFOAM/OpenFOAM...lerFoam/pEqn.H

we can see pEqnComp1 is a tmp format, shouldnt it be called as:

pEqnComp1()?

I tried with both, all works...why? any body knows? Thanks.

[floquation]

The answer is "operator overloading". More specifically "overloading the conversion operator".

The 'tmp' class is OpenFOAM's version of a "smart pointer" (a pointer which cleans up after itself).

The 'tmp' class overloads the following operators (among others):

//- Dereference operator
inline T& operator()();                                 
//- Const dereference operator
inline const T& operator()() const;                                 
//- Const cast to the underlying type reference
inline operator const T&() const;

The '()'-operator will return the object stored in the tmp instance. I.e., it returns a "fvScalarMatrix" in your example.

The third, the conversion operator, is an operator without any character. (In your example: "pEqnComp1", without brackets '()'.)

Looking at the implementation of these operator overloads, it can be seen that the conversion operator will call the '()'-operator:

template<class T>
               inline Foam::tmp<T>::operator const T&() const
               {
                        return operator()();
               }

To understand the C++ code, take a look at:
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/C++_Pro..._call_operator
http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/language/cast_operator

[sharonyue]

Originally Posted by floquation

The '()'-operator will return the object stored in the tmp instance. I.e., it returns a "fvScalarMatrix" in your example.

The third, the conversion operator, is an operator without any character. (In your example: "pEqnComp1", without brackets '()'.)

Hi bro,

thanks for the link, actually Im new to C++, im confused that, is there any difference between pEqn()"it returns a "fvScalarMatrix" in your example" and pEqn"(In your example: "pEqnComp1", without brackets '()'"
Because I thought pEqn is fvScalarMatrix, also the same with pEqn(). they are all fvScalarMatrix? ....

Thanks!

[floquation]

I'm not 100% sure what you are asking. But I think you are asking the following:

Does 'pEqnComp1' and 'pEqnComp1()' do the same?
And of what type are they?

Ultimately, the pEqnComp1 object is a tmp<fvScalarMatrix>.
Thanks to how OpenFOAM implemented 'operator overloading' in their tmp-class, typing 'pEqnComp1()' or 'pEqnComp1' (as a statement) will insert the fvScalarMatrix-object hidden within the tmp-object at the position you typed the statement 'pEqnComp1()' or 'pEqnComp1'.

So, both statements ('pEqnComp1()' and 'pEqnComp1') will give you a fvScalarMatrix object.


Carefully distinguish between the object pEqnComp1 and the statement/command/function-call pEqnComp1.
The latter statement ('pEqnComp1' or 'pEqnComp1()') calls a function of the pEqnComp1 object.

[fqi0309]

Your explanation is very helpful. I was confused by the same question for some time.