The type of pointer-to-member-function
is different from pointer-to-function
.
The type of a function is different depending on whether it is an ordinary function or a non-static member function of some class:
int f(int x);
the type is "int (*)(int)" // since it is an ordinary function
And
int Mat::f2(int x);
the type is "int (Mat::*)(int)" // since it is a non-static member function of class Mat
Note: if it’s a static member function of class Fred, its type is the same as if it were an ordinary function: "int (*)(char,float)"
In C++, member functions have an implicit parameter which points to
the object (the this pointer inside the member function). Normal C
functions can be thought of as having a different calling convention
from member functions, so the types of their pointers
(pointer-to-member-function vs pointer-to-function) are different and
incompatible. C++ introduces a new type of pointer, called a
pointer-to-member, which can be invoked only by providing an object.NOTE: do not attempt to “cast” a pointer-to-member-function into a
pointer-to-function; the result is undefined and probably disastrous.
E.g., a pointer-to-member-function is not required to contain the
machine address of the appropriate function. As was said in the last
example, if you have a pointer to a regular C function, use either a
top-level (non-member) function, or a static (class) member function.
More on this Here and here.