C++ Primer, Fifth Edition

16.2.6. Understanding std::move

The library move function (§ 13.6.1, p. 533) is a good illustration of a template that uses rvalue references. Fortunately, we can use move without understanding the template mechanisms that it uses. However, looking at how move works can help cement our general understanding, and use, of templates.

In § 13.6.2 (p. 534) we noted that although we cannot directly bind an rvalue reference to an lvalue, we can use move to obtain an rvalue reference bound to an lvalue. Because move can take arguments of essentially any type, it should not be surprising that move is a function template.

How std::move Is Defined

The standard ...