Expected

A C++98 version of C++23's std::expected. An expected<T,E> either contains an expected value of type T or an error value of type E. An expected value can be created as normal, and an unexpected value can be marked as so through the helper type dp::unexpected<E>. Note that due to the lack of CTAD in C++98, the type of unexpected must be explicitly stated, e.g. dp::unexpected<error_t>(myError) rather than simply dp::unexpected(myError). This is unfortunate, but alternatives such as a function to do the deduction would mean one extra copy for every unexepected made.

The interface of dp::expected is as follows

Functions

operator* operator->	Access contained expected value, without checks
operator bool has_value	Checks if the object holds an expected value
value	Access contained expected value, with checks
error	Access contained unexpected value
value_or	Returns contained expected value if held, or the parameter if not
swap	Swaps the status and contained objects of two expected objects
operator==	Compares contained expected values

Note that operator bool is not explicit, as this was not supported in C++98

Sample code

#include "cpp98/expected.h"

enum error_code{
    not_in_database,
    is_null
};

dp::expected<std::string, error_code> get_DB_field(){
    db_query.add("SELECT * FROM TABLE");
    db_query.open();
    if(db_query.empty()) return dp::unexpected<error_code>(not_in_database);  //Return unexpected error
    else if(db_query.get_field(foo) == NULL) return dp::unexpected<error_code>(is_null);

    else return db_query.get_field(foo);
}

int main(){
    dp::expected<std::string,error_code> db_field = get_DB_field();
 
    if(!db_field.has_value()) print_error(db_field.error());
    else{
        do_things_to_process(*db_field);
}