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## Class connection

boost::signals2::connection — Query/disconnect a signal-slot connection.

## Synopsis

    // In header: <boost/signals2/connection.hpp>

    class connection {
    public:
      // construct/copy/destruct
      connection();
      connection(const connection&);
      connection& operator=(const connection&);

      // connection management
      void disconnect() const;
      bool connected() const;

      // blocking
      bool blocked() const;

      // modifiers
      void swap(const connection&);

      // comparisons
      bool operator==(const connection&) const;
      bool operator<(const connection&) const;
    };

    // specialized algorithms
    void swap(connection&, connection&);

## Description

The connection class represents a connection between a Signal and a Slot. It is a lightweight object that has the ability to query whether the signal and slot are currently connected, and to disconnect the signal and slot. It is always safe to query or disconnect a connection.

###### Thread Safety

The methods of the `connection` class are thread-safe with the exception of swap and the assignment operator. A `connection` object should not be accessed concurrently when either of these operations is in progress. However, it is always safe to access a different `connection` object in another thread, even if the two `connection` objects are copies of each other which refer to the same underlying connection.

### `connection` public construct/copy/destruct

1.     connection();

   Effects: | Sets the currently represented connection to the NULL connection.
   Postconditions: | `!this->connected()`.
   Throws: | Will not throw.

2.     connection(const connection& other);

   Effects: | `this` references the connection referenced by `other`.
   Throws: | Will not throw.

3.     connection& operator=(const connection& other);

   Effects: | `this` references the connection referenced by `other`.
   Throws: | Will not throw.

### `connection` connection management

1.     void disconnect() const;

   Effects: | If `this->connected()`, disconnects the signal and slot referenced by this; otherwise, this operation is a no-op.
   Postconditions: | `!this->connected()`.

2.     bool connected() const;

   Returns: | `true` if this references a non-NULL connection that is still active (connected), and `false` otherwise.
   Throws: | Will not throw.

### `connection` blocking

1.     bool blocked() const;

   Queries if the connection is blocked. A connection may be blocked by creating a `boost::signals2::shared_connection_block` object.

   Returns: | `true` if the associated slot is either disconnected or blocked, `false` otherwise.
   Throws: | Will not throw.

### `connection` modifiers

1.     void swap(const connection& other);

   Effects: | Swaps the connections referenced in `this` and `other`.
   Throws: | Will not throw.

### `connection` comparisons

1.     bool operator==(const connection& other) const;

   Returns: | `true` if `this` and `other` reference the same connection or both reference the NULL connection, and `false` otherwise.
   Throws: | Will not throw.

2.     bool operator<(const connection& other) const;

   Returns: | `true` if the connection referenced by `this` precedes the connection referenced by `other` based on some unspecified ordering, and `false` otherwise.
   Throws: | Will not throw.

### `connection` specialized algorithms

1.     void swap(connection& x, connection& y);

   Effects: | `x.swap(y)`
   Throws: | Will not throw.