Primary Expressions

Syntax

primary_expression: literal this :: identifier :: operator_name :: qualified_name (expression) member_name member_name: identifier operator_name conversion_function_name ~class_name qualified_name qualified_name: qualified_class_name :: member_name

A literal is a primary expression whose type depends upon its form.
Within the body of a non-static method, the this pointer points to the instance of the class for which the method was invoked. The this pointer is a primary expression that may be referenced only from within a non-static class method.
When the global scope operator (::) is followed by an identifier, an operator name or a qualified name, the result is a primary expression whose type is the same as the named object. The named object must be of file scope. The result is an lvalue only if the named object is an lvalue.
An expression enclosed by parentheses is a primary expression. The type of the primary expression is the same as that of the expression enclosed within the parentheses.
A member name is a primary expression that may appear after one of the member access operators . or ->.

The following applies to member names.

An identifier names a member when it has been declared as a data member or a method of a class.
Operator names are described in the topic overloading operators in the chapter on overloading.
Conversion function names are described in the topic conversions in the special members subsection of the chapter on classes.
A tilde (~) followed by a member name is a destructor.
A qualified member name identifies a member of a base or nested class. The type of the primary expression is the same as the type of the named member and it is an lvalue only if the named member is an lvalue.