C++ nested referece directly vs via template argument - c++

Question

Just a question something I found interesting when working with stl. In the below code, the last two lines in the main function will cause the error (indicated in the comments). However, the test_func compiles fine. Since type being passed to the template function is a reference type and the function itself applies the & operator aren't these two things essentially the same? well, apparently not cause one of them compiles and the other doesn't. Anyone know why?
class File {
private:
std::string name_;
public:
File(std::string n) : name_(n) {}
std::string name() const { return name_; }
};
std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& os, const File& f)
{
os << f.name();
return os;
}
template <class T> void test_func(const T& v)
{
T& v1(v);
std::cout << "File:" << v1 << std::endl;
}
typedef File& FileRef;
int main(int argc, char* argv[])
{
File f("test_file");
test_func<File&>(f);
// FileRef& fRef1(f); ==> error; cannot declare reference to 'class File&'
// File&& fRef2(f); ==> error; expected unqualified-id before '&&' token
}
UPDATE: I came across this when working with bind1st and bind2nd functions in ; they are defined just like test_func in the text book (stroustrup in Chapter 18 section on binders) so it can't be wrong.

Answer 1

The first commented line is legal, and your compiler is probably not conforming with C++11. Because of C++11's reference collapsing rules, in fact, it should declare an lvalue reference to File named fRef1 and bind it to the lvalue f.
The second commented line is illegal: you cannot bind an rvalue reference to an lvalue. However, the error you are getting seems to indicate that the compiler does not understand the && token.
If you are using Clang or GCC, make sure you are compiling with the -std=c++11 or -std=c++0x option.
UPDATE:
In C++03, both lines are illegal, and even this function call should be rejected by the compiler:
test_func<File&>(f); // SHOULD BE AN ERROR! (substitution failure)
Per paragraph 14.8.2/2 of the C++03 Standard:
[...] Type deduction may fail for
the following reasons:
— [...]
— Attempting to create a reference to a reference type or a reference to void.
— [...]
This can mean two things: either your compiler has a bug, or it intentionally decides to ignore an attempt to create a reference to reference in the context of template argument deduction (and only in that context) - meaning that you're dealing with a compiler extension.
In any case, that function call is ill-formed and therefore not portable.

Answer 2

I think the function works, because the compiler is clever enough not to make a reference of a reference. He gets a reference and wants a reference, so it stays one. I think he simply ignores the second & when you have T& with T already a reference.
I can't explain it in detail but in c++ you can use references mostly exactly like non-references.
In FileRef& he can't ignore that. Here you explicitly say: make a reference of a reference, what can't work.
And && is a logical AND.
ps: substitution failure is not an error (SFINAE)