Why can't structure initialization work with array of char? - c++

Question

When initializing a struct using curly braces, it does not seem to work with an array of chars. I can write an equivalent constructor that works below. Is there any syntax so I don't have to write the constructor?
#include <cstdint>
#include <cstring>
using namespace std;
struct NamedLocationData {
uint16_t offset;
char stateName[21];
float lat;
float lon;
uint32_t population;
NamedLocationData(uint16_t offset, const char stateName[21],
float lat, float lon, uint32_t population)
: offset(offset), lat(lat), lon(lon), population(population) {
strncpy(this->stateName, stateName, 21);
}
};
int main() {
uint16_t nameOffset = 0;
char stateName[21] = "New York";
float lat = 40;
float lon = -74;
uint32_t population = 8000000;
#if 0
NamedLocationData temp = NamedLocationData
{
nameOffset, stateName, lat, lon, population
};
#endif
NamedLocationData temp( nameOffset, stateName, lat, lon, population);
}

Answer 1

Default constructors are one of the special member functions. If no constructors are declared in a class, the compiler provides an implicit inline default constructor.
I suggest you change char[] to string so that stateName will be able to get a value.
#include <cstdint>
#include <cstring>
#include <string>
using namespace std;
struct NamedLocationData {
uint16_t offset;
string stateName;
float lat;
float lon;
uint32_t population;
NamedLocationData(uint16_t offset, string stateName,
float lat, float lon, uint32_t population)
: offset(offset), lat(lat), lon(lon), population(population) ,
stateName(stateName){}
};
int main() {
uint16_t nameOffset = 0;
string stateName = "New York";
float lat = 40;
float lon = -74;
uint32_t population = 8000000;
#if 0
NamedLocationData temp = NamedLocationData
{
nameOffset, stateName, lat, lon, population
};
#endif
NamedLocationData temp(nameOffset, stateName, lat, lon, population);
return 0;
}
Result: