Modern C++ Overview
Part Two Solutions
Copyright © James Raynard 2023
Lambda Expression
• Briefly describe what is meant by a lambda expression
• A lambda expression is an anonymous, inline function. It is used to create a
local function, mainly for passing as an argument to a function call or as a
return value
Copyright © James Raynard 2023
Defining a lambda expression
• Briefly describe the syntax for writing a lambda expression
• We put [] for the function name
• The arguments are written in the usual way
• The body is written in the usual way, as an inline function
• The compiler will deduce the return type (except in C++11, if the function
body returns a value and contains more than one statement)
• Write down a lambda expression that takes an int argument and
returns double the value of the argument
[] (int arg) { return 2 * arg; }
Copyright © James Raynard 2023
Example of lambda expression usage
• The C++ standard algorithm function count_if takes three arguments:
the begin and end of an iterator range, and a predicate function
which returns a boolean
• It calls the predicate function on every element in the iterator range
• Use count_if() to write a program which prints out the number of odd
elements in a vector of int, using a suitable lambda expression
Copyright © James Raynard 2023
Capture
• Briefly explain what is meant by "capture" in a lambda expression and
how to implement it
• A capture makes variables in the local scope available for use in the body of
the lambda expression
• This is done by writing the names of the desired variables inside the [] of the
lambda expression
• By default, variables are captured by value
• To capture a variable by reference, put a '&' in front of its name
Copyright © James Raynard 2023
Capture
• Write down lambda expressions which capture a local variable x
• By value
[x]() { /* Use copy of x */ }
• By reference
[&x]() { /* Use reference to x */ }
Copyright © James Raynard 2023
Capture all local variables
• Write down lambda expressions which capture all local variables
• By value
[=]() { /* Use copies of local variables */ }
• By reference
[&]() { /* Use references to local variables */ }
Copyright © James Raynard 2023
Capture and objects
• Write down lambda expressions which could be used in a member
function to capture the data members of the object
[this]() { /* Use references to data members */ }
[this]() { /* Use references to date variables */ }
• How does this differ from capturing local variables?
• The data members are captured through a reference to the object (by
dereferencing the "this" pointer)
• No special syntax is needed to modify the data members
Copyright © James Raynard 2023
Example of lambda expression with capture
• Alter the earlier count_if example so that it finds the number of exact
multiples of any integer (instead of the hard-coded value 2)
• The integer will be a local variable which is captured by the lambda
expression
• Write a program that uses this lambda expression to find the number
of exact multiples of 3
Copyright © James Raynard 2023
