Article ID: 151167 - Last Review: December 2, 2003 - Revision: 2.0

BUG: LNK2001 Error for Static Member in Class Template

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SYMPTOMS

Linker error LNK2001 is generated for static member variables of nested classes in class templates. The message states:
error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol "public: static int Outer<int>::Inner::sobj"(?sobj@Inner@?$Outer@H@@2HA)
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RESOLUTION

Do not use static member variables in nested classes of class templates.
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STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.
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MORE INFORMATION

The sample code below gives the error message LNK2001.
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Sample Code

/* Compile options needed: none
*/ 

template<class T> class Outer
{
public:
    static T souter;

    class Inner
    {
    public:
        static T sobj;
    };
};

template <class T> double Outer<double>::souter = 1;

template <class T> int Outer<int>::Inner::sobj = 5;

void main()
{
    double dval = Outer<double>::souter;

    int i = Outer<int>::Inner::sobj;
}
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APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Visual C++ 2.0 Professional Edition
  • Microsoft Visual C++ 2.1
  • Microsoft Visual C++ 2.2
  • Microsoft Visual C++ 4.0 Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Visual C++ 4.1 Subscription
  • Microsoft Visual C++ 4.2 Enterprise Edition
  • Microsoft Visual C++ 5.0 Enterprise Edition
  • Microsoft Visual C++ 4.2 Professional Edition
  • Microsoft Visual C++ 5.0 Professional Edition
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Keywords: 
kbbug kbcompiler kbcpponly KB151167
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Retired KB ArticleRetired KB Content Disclaimer
This article was written about products for which Microsoft no longer offers support. Therefore, this article is offered "as is" and will no longer be updated.
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