Something like

 

template<class T>
class Redactable {
    T value_{};
    bool redacted_ = false;

public:
    void redact()   { redacted_ = true; }
    void unredact() { redacted_ = false; }

    operator T&()
        pre (!redacted_)
    {
        return value_;
    }
};

 

With the only magic being good error handing by the compiler or IDE?
 

-----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----
Von: Jens Maurer <jens.maurer@gmx.net>
Gesendet: Mo 24.08.2026 04:14
Betreff: Re: [std-proposals] Forget forget let‘s redact
An: std-proposals@lists.isocpp.org;
CC: Sebastian Wittmeier <wittmeier@projectalpha.org>;


On 8/24/26 00:04, Sebastian Wittmeier via Std-Proposals wrote:
> How about solving it as
>
> std::redactable<T>
>
> similar to std::optional<T>?
>
> It could still be a magic (templated) class going beyond the capabilities of pure library solutions.

I'm ok with having standard library functions whose implementations requires
implementation-defined means.

I'll oppose standard-library looking functions that (for the caller) change
the way the core language works at the call site.

Jens