How to declare a static const char* in your header file?

Question

I\'d like to define a constant char* in my header file for my .cpp file to use. So I\'ve tried this:

private:
    static const char *SOMETHING = \"sommething\";         


        

Answer 1

With C++11 you can use the constexpr keyword and write in your header:

private:
    static constexpr const char* SOMETHING = "something";

Notes:

• constexpr makes SOMETHING a constant pointer so you cannot write

  SOMETHING = "something different";
  

  later on.

• Depending on your compiler, you might also need to write an explicit definition in the .cpp file:

  constexpr const char* MyClass::SOMETHING;