This method is very similar to the method described in section Applying an Action Asynchronously with Synchronization. In addition to what hpx::async can do, the functions hpx::async_continue takes an additional function argument. This function will be called as the continuation of the executed action. It is expected to perform additional operations and to make sure that a result is returned to the original invocation site. This method chains operations asynchronously by providing a continuation operation which is automatically executed once the first action has finished executing.

As an example we chain two actions, where the result of the first action is forwarded to the second action and the result of the second action is sent back to the original invocation site:

// first action
boost::int32_t action1(boost::int32_t i)
{
    return i+1;
}
HPX_PLAIN_ACTION(action1);    // defines action1_type

// second action
boost::int32_t action2(boost::int32_t i)
{
    return i*2;
}
HPX_PLAIN_ACTION(action2);    // defines action2_type

// this code invokes 'action1' above and passes along a continuation
// function which will forward the result returned from 'action1' to
// 'action2'.
action1_type act1;     // define an instance of 'action1_type'
action2_type act2;     // define an instance of 'action2_type'
hpx::future<int> f =
    hpx::async_continue(act1, hpx::find_here(), 42,
        hpx::make_continuation(act2));
hpx::cout << f.get() << "\n";   // will print: 86 ((42 + 1) * 2)

By default, the continuation is executed on the same locality as hpx::async_continue is invoked from. If you want to specify the locality where the continuation should be executed, the code above has to be written as:

// this code invokes 'action1' above and passes along a continuation
// function which will forward the result returned from 'action1' to
// 'action2'.
action1_type act1;     // define an instance of 'action1_type'
action2_type act2;     // define an instance of 'action2_type'
hpx::future<int> f =
    hpx::async_continue(act1, hpx::find_here(), 42,
        hpx::make_continuation(act2, hpx::find_here()));
hpx::cout << f.get() << "\n";   // will print: 86 ((42 + 1) * 2)

Similarily, it is possible to chain more than 2 operations:

action1_type act1;     // define an instance of 'action1_type'
action2_type act2;     // define an instance of 'action2_type'
hpx::future<int> f =
    hpx::async_continue(act1, hpx::find_here(), 42,
        hpx::make_continuation(act2,
            hpx::make_continuation(act1)));
hpx::cout << f.get() << "\n";   // will print: 87 ((42 + 1) * 2 + 1)

The function hpx::make_continuation creates a special function object which exposes the following prototype:

struct continuation
{
    template <typename Result>
    void operator()(hpx::id_type id, Result&& result) const
    {
        ...
    }
};

where the parameters passed to the overloaded function operator (operator()()) are:

	Note
	All of those operations are implemented by the predefined continuation function object which is returned from hpx::make_continuation. Any (custom) function object used as a continuation should conform to the same interface.