sockets - C++ overload << operator for class object acting as stream -

so i've browsed bunch of other threads, none pertain questions have on exact topic. writing c++ library socket communication. have tcp socket class handles operations on tcp socket (setup, read/write, etc). want able read , write data to/from tcp socket object using << , >> operators. example, want able write, say, double socket in fashion:

double x; tcpsocket *sock = new tcpsocket();  //socket setup stuff here...  sock << x; 

at moment, have 2 templated overloaded operator functions within tcpsocket class:

template<typename t> tcpsocket operator<<(tcpsocket sock, t &val) {     unsigned char bytesofval[] = //parse bytes of val here...      sock.write(bytesofval, sizeof(bytesofval)); } 

-

template<typename t> tcpsocket operator>>(tcpsocket sock, t &val) {     std::stringstream ss;     byte buf[sizeof(val)];      sock.read(buf, sizeof(buf));     ss.str(std::string(buf));      ss >> val; } 

where sock.read( ) , sock.write( ) issue system calls read( ) , write( ) using socket file descriptor (not relevant fyi). these functions templated in attempt able bytes data type in 1 place.

so questions are:

• will these overloaded operator functions work in way want them to?

• if works, can chain these together, such as:

  sock << 45.8 << 33.9 << "numbers";

========================================================================= here updated operator functions:

//write socket template<typename t> tcpsocket& operator<<(tcpsocket& sock, t &val) {     size_t buflen = sizeof(val);     unsigned char buf[buflen];      memcpy(buf, &val, buflen);      sock.write(buf, buflen);      return sock; } 

and

//read socket template<typename t> tcpsocket& operator>>(tcpsocket &sock, t &val) {     size_t buflen = sizeof(val);     unsigned char buf[buflen];     int numbytesread = 0;      numbytesread = sock.read(buf, buflen);      memcpy(&val, buf, numbytesread);      return sock; }  

for function work @ all, you'll need use references tcpsocket input argument return type. val needs t const&, not t&.

template<typename t> tcpsocket& operator<<(tcpsocket& sock, t const&val) {     unsigned char bytesofval[] = //parse bytes of val here...      sock.write(bytesofval, sizeof(bytesofval));     return sock; } 

now, can use:

sock << 45.8 << 33.9 << "numbers"; 

if want able use:

sock << 45.8 << 33.9 << "numbers" << std::endl; 

you'll need function.

tcpsocket& operator<<(tcpsocket& soc,                       std::ostream&(*f)(std::ostream&)) {     std::ostringstream s;     s << f;     return sock << s.str(); }