A move constructor is a special type of constructor in C++ that is used to create a new object from the already existing object of the same type, but instead of making a copy of it, it makes the new object point to the already existing object in the memory, leaving the source object in a valid but unspecified state.
In this article, we will learn about move constructor, why they are used and how to implement them in our C++ program.
What are Move Constructors?
In C++, move constructors is a type of constructor that works on the r-value references and move semantics (move semantics involves pointing to the already existing object in the memory).
Unlike copy constructors that work with the l-value references and copy semantics(copy semantics means copying the actual data of the object to another object), move constructor transfer the ownership of the already existing object to the new object without making any copy of it. It makes the new object point to the already existing object in the heap memory.
Syntax of Move Constructor in C++
The move constructor takes the rvalue reference to the object of the same class as parameter.
ClassName (ClassName&& obj) {
data = obj.data;
// Nulling out the pointer to the temporary data
obj.data = nullptr;
}
We transfer the ownership of the resources from the old object to the new object and nullify the old object pointer.
Example:
Geeks (Geeks&& obj) {
ptr = obj.ptr;
obj.ptr = nullptr;
}
Just like any other member function, we can also define the more constructor outside the class.
Example of Move Constructor in C++
C++
// C++ Program to illustrate how to use the move constructor
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class Simple {
private:
int* data;
public:
// Constructor
Simple(int value) : data(new int(value))
{
cout << "Constructor called, data = " << *data
<< endl;
}
// Destructor
~Simple()
{
delete data;
cout << "Destructor called" << endl;
}
// Move constructor
Simple(Simple&& other)
: data(other.data)
{
// nullify the other object resource
other.data = nullptr;
cout << "Move constructor called" << endl;
}
// Move assignment operator
Simple& operator=(Simple&& other)
{
if (this != &other) {
delete data; // Free existing resource
data = other.data; // Transfer ownership
other.data = nullptr; // Nullify source
cout << "Move assignment called" << endl;
}
return *this;
}
// Disable copy constructor and copy assignment operator
Simple(const Simple&) = delete;
Simple& operator=(const Simple&) = delete;
// Function to print the value
void print()
{
if (data) {
cout << "Data: " << *data << endl;
}
else {
cout << "Data is null" << endl;
}
}
};
int main()
{
// Create a Simple object with value 42
Simple obj1(42);
obj1.print();
// Move obj1 to obj2 using move constructor
Simple obj2 = move(obj1);
// Print obj2's data
obj2.print();
// Print obj1's data after move
obj1.print();
// Create another Simple object with value 84
Simple obj3(84);
// Move obj2 to obj3 using move assignment
obj3 = move(obj2);
obj3.print();
obj2.print();
return 0;
}
OutputConstructor called, data = 42
Data: 42
Move constructor called
Data: 42
Data is null
Constructor called, data = 84
Move assignment called
Data: 42
Data is null
Destructor called
Destructor called
Destructor called
Why Move Constructors are Used?
Move constructor moves the resources in the heap, i.e., unlike copy constructors which copy the data of the existing object and assigning it to the new object, move constructor just makes the pointer of the declared object to point to the data of temporary object and nulls out the pointer of the temporary objects. Thus, move constructor prevents unnecessarily copying data in the memory. This increase the performance of the program by avoiding the overhead caused by unnecessary copying.
Work of move constructor looks a bit like default member-wise copy constructor but in this case, it nulls out the pointer of the temporary object preventing more than one object to point to same memory location.
Example: Program with Only Copy Constructor and No Move Constructor
C++
// C++ program without declaring the
// move constructor
#include <iostream>
#include <vector>
using namespace std;
// Move Class
class Move {
private:
// Declaring the raw pointer as
// the data member of the class
int* data;
public:
// Constructor
Move(int d)
{
// Declare object in the heap
data = new int;
*data = d;
cout << "Constructor is called for " << d << endl;
};
// Copy Constructor to delegated
// Copy constructor
Move(const Move& source)
: Move{ *source.data }
{
// Copying constructor copying
// the data by making deep copy
cout << "Copy Constructor is called - "
<< "Deep copy for " << *source.data << endl;
}
// Destructor
~Move()
{
if (data != nullptr)
// If the pointer is not
// pointing to nullptr
cout << "Destructor is called for " << *data
<< endl;
else
// If the pointer is
// pointing to nullptr
cout << "Destructor is called"
<< " for nullptr" << endl;
// Free the memory assigned to
// data member of the object
delete data;
}
};
// Driver Code
int main()
{
// Create vector of Move Class
vector<Move> vec;
// Inserting object of Move class
vec.push_back(Move{ 10 });
vec.push_back(Move{ 20 });
return 0;
}
OutputConstructor is called for 10
Constructor is called for 10
Copy Constructor is called - Deep copy for 10
Destructor is called for 10
Constructor is called for 20
Constructor is called for 20
Copy Constructor is called - Deep copy for 20
Constructor is called for 10
Copy Constructor is called - Deep copy for 10
Destructor is called for 10
Destructor is called for 20
Destructor is called for 10
Destructor is called for 20
Explanation
The above program shows the unnecessarily calling copy constructor and inefficiently using the memory by copying the same data several times as it new object upon each call to copy constructor.
This unnecessary use of the memory can be avoided by using move constructor.
Example: Program with Move Constructor
C++
// C++ program for demonstrating the use of
// move constructor
#include <iostream>
#include <vector>
using namespace std;
// Move Class
class Move {
private:
// Declare the raw pointer as
// the data member of class
int* data;
public:
// Constructor
Move(int d)
{
// Declare object in the heap
data = new int;
*data = d;
cout << "Constructor is called for " << d << endl;
};
// Copy Constructor
Move(const Move& source)
: Move{ *source.data }
{
// Copying the data by making
// deep copy
cout << "Copy Constructor is called -"
<< "Deep copy for " << *source.data << endl;
}
// Move Constructor
Move(Move&& source)
: data{ source.data }
{
cout << "Move Constructor for " << *source.data
<< endl;
source.data = nullptr;
}
// Destructor
~Move()
{
if (data != nullptr)
// If pointer is not pointing
// to nullptr
cout << "Destructor is called for " << *data
<< endl;
else
// If pointer is pointing
// to nullptr
cout << "Destructor is called"
<< " for nullptr " << endl;
// Free up the memory assigned to
// The data member of the object
delete data;
}
};
// Driver Code
int main()
{
// Vector of Move Class
vector<Move> vec;
// Inserting Object of Move Class
vec.push_back(Move{ 10 });
vec.push_back(Move{ 20 });
return 0;
}
OutputConstructor is called for 10
Move Constructor for 10
Destructor is called for nullptr
Constructor is called for 20
Move Constructor for 20
Constructor is called for 10
Copy Constructor is called -Deep copy for 10
Destructor is called for 10
Destructor is called for nullptr
Destructor is called for 10
Destructor is called for 20
Explanation:
The unnecessary call to the copy constructor is avoided by making the call to the move constructor. Thus, making the code more memory efficient and decreasing the overhead of calling the move constructor.
Noexcept Move Constructor
Using the noexcept keyword with move constructor guarantees that it will not throw any exceptions during execution. This is one of the optimization that is useful in the following cases:
- Algorithms generally use move constructor where reorder of elements or change in container size require. By marking the move constructor noexcept, we ensure that algorithms can always safely implement moves instead falling back to copying if move fails.
- Some temporary objects are often moved, not copied, so in this case also, we can use noexcept move constructors.
Suppose we have a vector V which contains objects of some class named C. Assume initially vector has size 2 after filling all 2 elements vector needs to grow. So here is one optimization we can do by saying move constructors as noexcept.
When we say move constructor as noexcept we'd say compiler to move the objects whenever it will do the resize operation. In this case compiler will use move rather than using of copy constructor in reallocation phase and by using move constructors we can save a lot of time for copying all objects.
Example 1: Without noexcept Move Constructor
C++
// C++ program to illustrate what happens when we
// don't use the noexcept move constructor
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;
class A {
public:
A() {}
// Move constructor not marked as noexcept
A(A&& other) {
cout << "Move constructor" << endl;
}
// Copy constructor
A(const A& other) {
cout << "Copy constructor" << endl;
}
};
int main() {
vector<A> v;
// Reserve space for at least two elements to
// avoid immediate resizing
v.reserve(2);
// Uses the move constructor for the temporary objects
v.push_back(A());
v.push_back(A());
cout << "Resize happens" << endl;
// Move constructor may be called again if resizing occurs
v.push_back(A());
return 0;
}
OutputMove constructor
Move constructor
Resize happens
Move constructor
Copy constructor
Copy constructor
Explanation
Here, for first two elements, it is quiet simple it's using move constructor, but for 3rd element vector has to resize itself . For first element, compiler is still try to use move constructor but since it is not marked as noexcept so it might throw an exception , so to make it more exception safe compiler is going to start copy constructor for copying remaining elements.
Example 2: With noexcept Move Constructor
C++
// C++ Program to illustrate the use of
// noexcept move constructor
#include <vector>
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class Test {
public:
Test(){}
// Move constructor marked as noexcept
Test(Test&& other) noexcept {
cout << "Move constructor " << endl;
}
// Copy constructor
Test(const Test& other) {
cout << "Copy constructor " << endl;
}
};
int main() {
vector<Test> vec;
vec.reserve(2); // Reserve space for at least two elements
Test a;
vec.push_back(Test());
vec.push_back(Test()); // Uses the move constructor
cout << "Resize happens" << endl;
vec.push_back(Test());
return 0;
}
OutputMove constructor
Move constructor
Resize happens
Move constructor
Move constructor
Move constructor
Explanation
Here, since move constructor is noexcept, we are making sure to copiler that it won't through any exception, that's why compiler is safely going to use move constructor instead of copy. By doing this we can operate vector faster
Why It Is Not a Good Practice to Make Copy Constructor as noexcept?
Copy constructors often involve deep copying, which can include resouce allocation by using new, malloc, etc , these can throw exceptions (typically std::bad_alloc). So. even if making it noexcept won't give any error, it is not a good practice.
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