http://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=54348
Bug #: 54348 Summary: wrong error reported for type mismatch in conditional expression : "error: no match for ternary 'operator?:' in 'false ?" Classification: Unclassified Product: gcc Version: 4.6.0 Status: UNCONFIRMED Severity: enhancement Priority: P3 Component: c++ AssignedTo: unassig...@gcc.gnu.org ReportedBy: jason.vas.d...@gmail.com Having made the simple mistake of returning an object of a different type in the '? ( ... )' and ': ( ... )' clauses of a ternary expression , I'd expect and it would be helpful if g++ would emit the "C" error "error: type mismatch in conditional expression" and not "error: no match for ternary 'operator?:' in 'false ? ..." This is extremely confusing, as it suggests that the ternary expression somehow contains an unbalanced number of parentheses or something. This code triggers the issue: <code> #include <string> #include <list> using namespace std; void f() { struct strct { string name, items ;}; list <string> myItems; string myName(""); string as ( ( (&(((strct*)0) -> items)) == (&(((strct*)0) -> name)) ) ? myItems : myName ) ; } </code> Compilation with gcc-4.6.0 & gcc-4.6.3 returns this error: $ g++ -c gxx_bug.cpp gxx_bug.cpp: In function 'void f()': gxx_bug.cpp:12:14: error: no match for ternary 'operator?:' in 'false ? myItems : myName' whereas changing 'list <string> myItems' to 'string myItems' allows compilation to succeed. Shouldn't g++ be complaining about initializing a string with a list<string> rather than this cryptic "no match for ternary 'operator?:'" here ?