std::has_virtual_destructor

template< class T >
struct has_virtual_destructor;

std::has_virtual_destructor is a UnaryTypeTrait.

If T is a type with a virtual destructor, the base characteristic is std::true_type. For any other type, the base characteristic is std::false_type.

If T is an incomplete non-union class type, the behavior is undefined.

The behavior of a program that adds specializations for std::has_virtual_destructor or std::has_virtual_destructor_v is undefined.

Template parameters

Helper variable template

template< class T >
inline constexpr bool has_virtual_destructor_v = has_virtual_destructor<T>::value;

Notes

If a class C has a public virtual destructor, it can be derived from, and the derived object can be safely deleted through a pointer to the base object (GotW #18). In this case, std::is_polymorphic<C>::value is true.

Example

#include <type_traits>
 
struct S {};
static_assert(!std::has_virtual_destructor_v<S>);
 
struct B { virtual ~B() {} };
static_assert(std::has_virtual_destructor_v<B>);
 
struct D : B { ~D() {} };
static_assert(std::has_virtual_destructor_v<D>);
 
int main()
{
    B* pd = new D;
    delete pd;
}

Defect reports

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

See also