[#BloombergLP-bdlb-VariantImp-the-0e]
= xref:BloombergLP.adoc[BloombergLP]::xref:BloombergLP/bdlb.adoc[bdlb]::xref:BloombergLP/bdlb/VariantImp.adoc[VariantImp]::the
:relfileprefix: ../../../
:mrdocs:

Return a reference providing modifiable access to the value of template parameter `TYPE` held by this variant object. `TYPE` must be the same as one of the types that this variant can hold. The behavior is undefined unless `is<TYPE>()` returns `true` and `TYPE` is not `void`. Note that `TYPE` must be specified explicitly, e.g., `myValue.the<int>()`.

== Synopsis

Declared in `<bdlb_variant.h>`

[source,cpp,subs="verbatim,replacements,macros,-callouts"]
----
template<class TYPE>
TYPE&
the();
----


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