What's the difference between (*(x)).a and (x)->a

[John (Eljay) Love-Jensen]

Hi John,

> Can they be different in C++ ?
> 
> A key phrase in the question is "x is an expression which generates a
> struct pointer."
> 
> You can overload the meaning of * or -> if x is a struct.  I thought you
> couldn't overload them if x is a pointer.

I can't think of any way of overloading operations on a pointer -- struct
pointer or any other sort of pointer.  All pointers are POD.

I can think of many ways of overloading operations on an object.  Smart
pointers (e.g., std::auto_ptr) are really objects with pointer semantics.

I think you are correct.  Good eye and very careful reading... good catch!

Sincerely,
--Eljay