std::is_layout_compatible

template< class T, class U >
struct is_layout_compatible;

If T and U are layout-compatible types, provides the member constant value equal to true. Otherwise value is false.

Every type is layout-compatible with its any cv-qualified versions, even if it is not an object type.

T and U shall each be a complete type, (possibly cv-qualified) void, or an array of unknown bound. Otherwise, the behavior is undefined.

If an instantiation of a template above depends, directly or indirectly, on an incomplete type, and that instantiation could yield a different result if that type were hypothetically completed, the behavior is undefined.

The behavior of a program that adds specializations for is_layout_compatible or is_layout_compatible_v is undefined.

Helper variable template

template< class T, class U >
inline constexpr bool is_layout_compatible_v = is_layout_compatible<T, U>::value;

Notes

A signed integer type and its unsigned counterpart are not layout-compatible. char is layout-compatible with neither signed char nor unsigned char.

Similar types are not layout-compatible if they are not the same type after ignoring top-level cv-qualification.

An enumeration type and its underlying type are not layout-compatible.

Array types of layout-compatible but different element types (ignoring cv-qualification) are not layout-compatible, even if they are of equal length.

Example

#include <iomanip>
#include <iostream>
#include <type_traits>
 
struct Foo
{
    int x;
    char y;
};
 
struct FooNua
{
    int x;
    [[no_unique_address]] char y;
};
 
class Bar
{
    const int u = 42;
    volatile char v = '*';
};
 
enum E0 : int {};
enum class E1 : int {};
 
static_assert
(
    std::is_layout_compatible_v<const void, volatile void> == true  and
    std::is_layout_compatible_v<Foo, Bar>                  == true  and
    std::is_layout_compatible_v<Foo[2], Bar[2]>            == false and
    std::is_layout_compatible_v<int, E0>                   == false and
    std::is_layout_compatible_v<E0, E1>                    == true  and
    std::is_layout_compatible_v<long, unsigned long>       == false and
    std::is_layout_compatible_v<char*, const char*>        == false and
    std::is_layout_compatible_v<char*, char* const>        == true  and
    std::is_layout_compatible_v<Foo, FooNua>               == false // Note [1]
);
 
// [1] MSVC erroneously fails this assert
 
int main() {}

See also