Use of constexpr function before definition fails

A constexpr function does NOT have to be defined before its first use, however the result of any call made prior to definition is not a constant expression.

Source: C++ Standard draft n4296, section 5.20:

A conditional-expression e is a core constant expression unless the evaluation of e, following the rules of the abstract machine, would evaluate one of the following expressions:

  • this, except in a constexpr function or a constexpr constructor that is being evaluated as part of e;
  • an invocation of a function other than a constexpr constructor for a literal class, a constexpr function, or an implicit invocation of a trivial destructor [ Note: Overload resolution is applied as
    usual — end note ];
  • an invocation of an undefined constexpr function or an undefined constexpr constructor;

version from draft 3485 (section 5.19):

A conditional-expression is a core constant expression unless it involves one of the following as a potentially evaluated subexpression, but subexpressions of logical AND, logical OR, and conditional operations that are not evaluated are not considered [ Note: An overloaded operator invokes a function. — end note ]:

  • this [ Note: when evaluating a constant expression, function invocation substitution replaces each occurrence of this in a constexpr member function with a pointer to the class object. — end note ];
  • an invocation of a function other than a constexpr constructor for a literal class or a constexpr function [ Note: Overload resolution is applied as usual — end note ];
  • an invocation of an undefined constexpr function or an undefined constexpr constructor

The example int x2 = s. t(); in n2235 actually became valid due to the changes made prior to Standardization. However, constexpr int x2 = s. t(); remains an error.

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