There seems to be a contradiction in §12.3.2/1 in the C++11 Standard
c++, c++11, language-lawyer
Solution
The clause "If a conversion function is a member function," was added to the working draft in N2798 as part of the Concepts wording per N2773 Proposed Wording for Concepts. N2798 12.3.2/1 reads (I'll use bold to show additions, and strikeout to show removals):
1 A member function of a class `X` having no parameters, or an associated function of a concept whose sole parameter is of type `X`, with a name of the form
conversion-function-id:
`operator` conversion-type-id
conversion-type-id:
type-specifier-seq attribute-specifieropt conversion-declaratoropt
conversion-declarator:
ptr-operator conversion-declaratoropt
specifies a conversion from `X` to the type specified by the conversion-type-id. Such member functions are called conversion functions. Classes, enumerations, and typedef-names shall not be declared in the type-specifier-seq. Neither parameter types nor No return type can be specified. If a conversion function is a member function, tThe type of a the conversion function (8.3.5) is “function taking no parameter returning conversion-type-id”; if a conversion function is an associated function, the type of the conversion function is “function taking a parameter of type `X` returning conversion-type-id”. A conversion function is never used to convert ...
The Concepts wording was removed in draft N2960. The "If a conversion function is a member function," should have also been removed at that time since it is now vestigal. Pertinent portion of N2960 §12.3.2/1:
1 A member function of a class `X` having no parameters, or an associated function of a concept whose sole parameter is of type X, with a name of the form
conversion-function-id:
`operator` conversion-type-id
conversion-type-id:
type-specifier-seq attribute-specifieropt conversion-declaratoropt
conversion-declarator:
ptr-operator conversion-declaratoropt
specifies a conversion from `X` to the type specified by the conversion-type-id. Such functions are called conversion functions. No return type can be specified. If a conversion function is a member function, the type of the conversion function (8.3.5) is “function taking no parameter returning conversion-type-id”; if a conversion function is an associated function, the type of the conversion function is “function taking a parameter of type `X` returning conversion-type-id”. ...
2018-02-03 Update: This has been fixed in C++17
CWG corrected this wording as a drive-by while fixing CWG issue 1990.
Problem
C++11 Standard §12.3.2/1 (emphasis mine): A member function of a class X having no parameters with a name of the form conversion-function-id: operator conversion-type-id conversion-type-id: type-specifier-seq conversion-declarator conversion-declarator: ptr-operator conversion-declarator specifies a conversion from X to the type specified by the conversion-type-id. Such functions are called conversion functions. No return type can be specified. If a conversion function is a member function, the type of the conversion function (8.3.5) is “function taking no parameter returning conversion-type-id”. Is a conversion function always a member function, or there are cases where this is not true?