// pref.hpp - p_ref, a pointer reference
// 
// Copyright (C)2004, David Turner
//
// Distributed under the Boost Software License, Version 1.0. (See
// accompanying file LICENSE_1_0.txt or copy at
// http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt)
//

#ifndef INC_PREF_HPP
#define INC_PREF_HPP

#include <stdexcept>

template <typename T>
class p_ref
{
    T* object_;

public:
    explicit p_ref(T& object):
      object_(&object) // perhaps boost::addressof
    {
    }

    p_ref():
      object_()
    {
    }

    T& get() const
    {
        if (object_)
            return *object_;
        throw std::logic_error("Null reference");
    }

    T* get_pointer() const
    {
        return object_;
    }

    operator T& () const
    {
        return get();
    }
};

template<typename T>
p_ref<T> make_p_ref(T& object)
{
    return p_ref<T>(object);
}

#endif // INC_PREF_HPP