C++ named requirements: Callable

A Callable type is a type for which the INVOKE operation (used by, e.g., std::function, std::bind, and std::thread::thread) is applicable. This operation may be performed explicitly using the library function std::invoke. (since C++17)

Requirements

The type T satisfies Callable if

Given

f, an object of type T
ArgTypes, suitable list of argument types
R, suitable return type

The following expressions must be valid:

Expression	Requirements
INVOKE<R>(f, std::declval<ArgTypes>()...)	the expression is well-formed in unevaluated context

where INVOKE<R>(f, t1, t2, ..., tN) is defined as static_cast<void>(INVOKE(f, t1, t2, ..., tN)) if R is possibly cv-qualified void, otherwise INVOKE(f, t1, t2, ..., tN), implicitly converted to R

where INVOKE(f, t1, t2, ..., tN) is defined as follows:

if f is a pointer to member function of class T:

If std::is_base_of<T, std::remove_reference_t<decltype(t1)>>::value is true, then INVOKE(f, t1, t2, ..., tN) is equivalent to (t1.*f)(t2, ..., tN)
otherwise, if std::remove_cvref_t<decltype(t1)> is a specialization of std::reference_wrapper, then INVOKE(f, t1, t2, ..., tN) is equivalent to (t1.get().*f)(t2, ..., tN) (since C++17)
otherwise, if t1 does not satisfy the previous items, then INVOKE(f, t1, t2, ..., tN) is equivalent to ((*t1).*f)(t2, ..., tN).

otherwise, if N == 1 and f is a pointer to data member of class T:

If std::is_base_of<T, std::remove_reference_t<decltype(t1)>>::value is true, then INVOKE(f, t1) is equivalent to t1.*f
otherwise, if std::remove_cvref_t<decltype(t1)> is a specialization of std::reference_wrapper, then INVOKE(f, t1) is equivalent to t1.get().*f (since C++17)
otherwise, if t1 does not satisfy the previous items, then INVOKE(f, t1) is equivalent to (*t1).*f

otherwise, INVOKE(f, t1, t2, ..., tN) is equivalent to f(t1, t2, ..., tN) (that is, f is a FunctionObject)

Notes

For pointers to member functions and pointers to data members, t1 may be a regular pointer or an object of class type that overloads operator*, such as std::unique_ptr or std::shared_ptr.

Pointers to data members are Callable, even though no function calls take place.

Standard library

In addition, the following standard library facilities accept any Callable type (not just FunctionObject)

std::function
std::bind
std::result_of
std::thread::thread
std::call_once
std::async
std::packaged_task
std::reference_wrapper

Defect reports

The following behavior-changing defect reports were applied retroactively to previously published C++ standards.

DR	Applied to	Behavior as published	Correct behavior
LWG 2420	C++11	when R is void, the result must be implicitly convertible to void (which is impossible)	the result is explicitly converted to void when R is cv void

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Technical Specifications

C++ named requirements: Callable

Requirements

Notes

Standard library

Defect reports

See also