std::bad_typeid

< cpp‎ | types

Defined in header `<typeinfo>`
class bad_typeid : public std::exception;

An exception of this type is thrown when a typeid operator is applied to a dereferenced null pointer value of a polymorphic type.

Inheritance diagram

Member functions

(constructor)	constructs a new `bad_typeid` object (public member function)
operator=	replaces the `bad_typeid` object (public member function)
what	returns the explanatory string (public member function)

std::bad_typeid::bad_typeid

	(1)
bad_typeid() throw();			(until C++11)
bad_typeid() noexcept;			(since C++11)
		(2)
bad_typeid( const bad_typeid& other ) throw();				(until C++11)
bad_typeid( const bad_typeid& other ) noexcept;				(since C++11)

Constructs a new bad_typeid object with an implementation-defined null-terminated byte string which is accessible through what().

1) Default constructor.

2) Copy constructor. If *this and other both have dynamic type std::bad_typeid then std::strcmp(what(), other.what()) == 0. (since C++11)

Parameters

other

another exception object to copy

std::bad_typeid::operator=

bad_typeid& operator=( const bad_typeid& other ) throw();		(until C++11)
bad_typeid& operator=( const bad_typeid& other ) noexcept;		(since C++11)

Assigns the contents with those of other. If *this and other both have dynamic type std::bad_typeid then std::strcmp(what(), other.what()) == 0 after assignment. (since C++11)

Parameters

other

another exception object to assign with

Return value

*this

std::bad_typeid::what

virtual const char* what() const throw();		(until C++11)
virtual const char* what() const noexcept;		(since C++11)

Returns the explanatory string.

Parameters

(none)

Return value

Pointer to a null-terminated string with explanatory information. The string is suitable for conversion and display as a std::wstring. The pointer is guaranteed to be valid at least until the exception object from which it is obtained is destroyed, or until a non-const member function (e.g. copy assignment operator) on the exception object is called.

Notes

Implementations are allowed but not required to override what().

Inherited from std::exception

Member functions

(destructor) [virtual]	destroys the exception object (virtual public member function of `std::exception`)
what [virtual]	returns an explanatory string (virtual public member function of `std::exception`)

Example

#include <iostream>
#include <typeinfo>
 
struct S { // The type has to be polymorphic
    virtual void f();
}; 
 
int main()
{
    S* p = nullptr;
    try {
        std::cout << typeid(*p).name() << '\n';
    } catch(const std::bad_typeid& e) {
        std::cout << e.what() << '\n';
    }
}

Possible output:

Attempted a typeid of NULL pointer!