[C++11: 5.2.5/2]: For the first option (dot) the first expression shall have complete class type. For the second option (arrow) the first expression shall have pointer to complete class type. The expression E1->E2 is converted to the equivalent form (*(E1)).E2; the remainder of 5.2.5 will address only the first option (dot). In either case, the id-expression shall name a member of the class or of one of its base classes. [ Note: because the name of a class is inserted in its class scope (Clause 9), the name of a class is also considered a nested member of that class. —end note ] [ Note: 3.4.5 describes how names are looked up after the . and -> operators. —end note ]