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operator<<,>>(std::filesystem::path)

template< class CharT, class Traits >
friend std::basic_ostream<CharT,Traits>&
    operator<<( std::basic_ostream<CharT,Traits>& os, const path& p );
(1) (since C++17)
template< class CharT, class Traits >
friend std::basic_istream<CharT,Traits>&
    operator>>( std::basic_istream<CharT,Traits>& is, path& p );
(2) (since C++17)

Performs stream input or output on the path p. std::quoted is used so that spaces do not cause truncation when later read by stream input operator.

These function templates are not visible to ordinary unqualified or qualified lookup, and can only be found by argument-dependent lookup when std::filesystem::path is an associated class of the arguments. This prevents undesirable conversions in the presence of a using namespace std::filesystem; using-directive.

Parameters

os - stream to perform output on
is - stream to perform input on
p - path to insert or extract

Return value

1) os
2) is

Exceptions

May throw implementation-defined exceptions.

Possible implementation

First version
template< class CharT, class Traits >
friend std::basic_ostream<CharT,Traits>&
    operator<<( std::basic_ostream<CharT,Traits>& os, const path& p )
{
    os << std::quoted(p.string<CharT,Traits>());
    return os;
}
Second version
template< class CharT, class Traits >
friend std::basic_istream<CharT,Traits>&
    operator>>( std::basic_istream<CharT,Traits>& is, path& p )
{
    std::basic_string<CharT, Traits> t;
    is >> std::quoted(t);
    p = t;
    return is;
}

Example

#include <iostream>
#include <filesystem>
int main()
{
    std::cout << std::filesystem::current_path() << '\n';
    std::cout << std::filesystem::temp_directory_path() << '\n';
}

Possible output:

"/home/user"
"/tmp"

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 2989 C++17 allowed insertion of everything convertible to path in the presence of a using-directive made hidden friend

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