# C++ Most vexing parse

**[Most vexing parse](https://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/language/direct_initialization)** is the surprising rule that in contexts ambiguous between a declaration and a temporary, the compiler interprets it as a declaration. For example, `Widget w(Widget());` declares `w` as a function returning `Widget`, not a `Widget` object initialized with a temporary.

Use brace initialization `Widget w{};` to avoid ambiguity with function declarations.

## Example

This example shows the most vexing parse trap and how brace initialization avoids it.

```cpp
// compile: g++ -o vexing vexing.cpp
// run: ./vexing
// description: most vexing parse: function declaration vs. temporary

#include <iostream>

class Widget {
public:
    Widget() { std::cout << "Widget constructed\n"; }
    void print() { std::cout << "Widget method\n"; }
};

int main() {
    // Most vexing parse: declares w as function returning Widget
    // Widget w(Widget());
    
    // These avoid the trap:
    Widget w1{};           // brace init: constructs w1
    Widget w2{Widget()};   // brace init with temp
    Widget w3 = Widget();  // assignment init
    
    w1.print();
    
    return 0;
}
```