C++ `std::decay<T>` Structure for Stripping Types

template <typename T>
struct decay;

std::decay<T> is a structure that obtains the decay type of T as member type decay::type.

The decay type of T is the same type that results from the standard conversions that happen when an lvalue expression is used as an rvalue, with its cv-qualifier stripped. This resembles the implicit conversions happening when an argument is passed by value to a function.

If T is a function type, a function-to-pointer conversion is applied and the decay type is the same as: add_pointer<T>::type
If T is an array type, an array-to-pointer conversion is applied and the decay type is the same as: add_pointer<remove_extent<remove_reference<T>::type>::type>::type
Otherwise, a regular lvalue-to-rvalue conversion is applied and the decay type is the same as: remove_cv<remove_reference<T>::type>::type.

Example

// decay example
#include <iostream>
#include <type_traits>

typedef std::decay<int>::type A;           // int
typedef std::decay<int&>::type B;          // int
typedef std::decay<int&&>::type C;         // int
typedef std::decay<const int&>::type D;    // int
typedef std::decay<int[2]>::type E;        // int*
typedef std::decay<int(int)>::type F;      // int(*)(int)

typedef int X[3];

int main() {
  std::cout << std::boolalpha;
  std::cout << "typedefs of int:" << std::endl;
  std::cout << "A: " << std::is_same<int,A>::value << std::endl;
  std::cout << "B: " << std::is_same<int,B>::value << std::endl;
  std::cout << "C: " << std::is_same<int,C>::value << std::endl;
  std::cout << "D: " << std::is_same<int,D>::value << std::endl;
  std::cout << "E: " << std::is_same<int,E>::value << std::endl;
  std::cout << "F: " << std::is_same<int,F>::value << std::endl;

  return 0;
}

Output:

typedefs of int:
A: true
B: true
C: true
D: true
E: false
F: false

C++ std::decay<T> Structure for Stripping Types

C++ `std::decay<T>` Structure for Stripping Types