c++ - Why do auto and template type deduction differ for braced initializers?

Question

I understand that, given a braced initializer, auto will deduce a type of std::initializer_list, while template type deduction will fail:

auto var = { 1, 2, 3 };   // type deduced as std::initializer_list<int>

template<class T> void f(T parameter);

f({ 1, 2, 3 });          // doesn't compile; type deduction fails

I even know where this is specified in the C++11 standard: 14.8.2.5/5 bullet 5:

[It's a non-deduced context if the program has] A function parameter for which the associated argument is an initializer list (8.5.4) but the parameter does not have std::initializer_list or reference to possibly cv-qualified std::initializer_list type. [ Example:

template void g(T);

g({1,2,3}); // error: no argument deduced for T

—end example ]

What I don't know or understand is why this difference in type deduction behavior exists. The specification in the C++14 CD is the same as in C++11, so presumably the standardization committee doesn't view the C++11 behavior as a defect.

Does anybody know why auto deduces a type for a braced initializer, but templates are not permitted to? While speculative explanations of the form "this could be the reason" are interesting, I'm especially interested in explanations from people who know why the standard was written the way it was.

Answer 1

There are two important reasons for templates not to do any deduction (the two that I remember in a discussion with the guy in charge)

• Concerns about future language extensions (there are multiple meanings you could invent - what about if we wanted to introduce perfect forwarding for braced init list function arguments?)

• The braces can sometimes validly initialize a function parameter that is dependent

template<typename T>
void assign(T &d, const T& s);

int main() {
  vector<int> v;
  assign(v, { 1, 2, 3 });
}

If T would be deduced at the right side to initializer_list<int> but at the left side to vector<int>, this would fail to work because of a contradictional argument deduction.

The deduction for auto to initializer_list<T> is controversial. There exist a proposal for C++-after-14 to remove it (and to ban initialization with { } or {a, b}, and to make {a} deduce to the type of a).