C++ language

Template:cpp/language/sidebar This is a brief reference of available C++ constructs.

Flow control

Conditional execution statements

Different code paths are executed according to the value of given expression

• if executes code conditionally
• switch executes code according to the value of an integral argument

Iteration statements

The same code is executed several times

• for executes loop
• range-for executes loop over a range Template:mark c++11 feature
• while executes loop, checking condition before each iteration
• do-while executes loop, checking condition after each iteration

Jump statements

Continue execution at a different location

• continue skips the remaining part of the enclosing loop body
• break terminates the enclosing loop
• goto continues execution in another location
• return terminates execution of the enclosing function

Functions

The same code can be reused at different locations in the program

• function declaration
• exception specifications enforces the function to throw only specific exceptions or not to throw at all (deprecated)
• noexcept specifier enforces the function not to throw any exceptions Template:mark c++11 feature
• inline specifier hints the compiler to insert a function's body directly into the calling code

Exceptions

Exceptions are a more robust way to signal error condition than function return codes or global error variables

• throw expression signals an error and transfers control to error handler
• try-catch block catches exceptions originating from specific block of code

Namespaces

Namespaces provide a way to prevent name clashes in large projects

• namespaces declaration
• namespace aliases

Types

• fundamental types define basic character, integer and floating point types
• compound types define types, holding several members of (potentially) different types
• function types define types, holding a pointer to a function
• decltype specifier defines a type, equivalent to the type of an expression Template:mark c++11 feature

Specifiers

• cv specifiers specifies constness and volatility of a type
• storage duration specifiers specifies storage duration of a type
• constexpr specifier specifies that the value of a variable or function can be computed at compile time Template:mark c++11 feature
• auto specifier specifies that the actual type shall be defined from the expression, assigned to the variable Template:mark c++11 feature
• alignas specifier specifies that the storage for the variable should be aligned by specific amount Template:mark c++11 feature

Operators

• operators allows the use of syntax commonly found in mathematics

Common operators
assignment	increment decrement	arithmetic	logical	comparison	member access	other
a = b a += b a -= b a *= b a /= b a %= b a &= b a |= b a ^= b a <<= b a >>= b	++a --a a++ a--	+a -a a + b a - b a * b a / b a % b ~a a & b a | b a ^ b a << b a >> b	!a a && b a || b	a == b a != b a < b a > b a <= b a >= b a <=> b	a[...] *a &a a->b a.b a->*b a.*b	function call
						a(...)
						comma
						a, b
						conditional
						a ? b : c
Special operators
static_cast converts one type to another related type dynamic_cast converts within inheritance hierarchies const_cast adds or removes cv-qualifiers reinterpret_cast converts type to unrelated type C-style cast converts one type to another by a mix of static_cast, const_cast, and reinterpret_cast new creates objects with dynamic storage duration delete destructs objects previously created by the new expression and releases obtained memory area sizeof queries the size of a type sizeof... queries the size of a parameter pack (since C++11) typeid queries the type information of a type noexcept checks if an expression can throw an exception (since C++11) alignof queries alignment requirements of a type (since C++11)

• operator precedence the order in which operators are evaluated
• alternative representations alternative spellings for some of the operators

Utilities

Types

• typedef declaration creates a synonym for a type
• type alias declaration creates a synonym for a type
• attributes defines additional information about variable Template:mark c++11 feature

Casts

• standard conversions implicit conversions from one type to another
• const_cast conversion
• static_cast conversion
• dynamic_cast conversion
• reinterpret_cast conversion

Memory allocation

• new expression allocates memory dynamically
• delete expression deallocates memory dynamically

Classes

Classes provide the concept of object-oriented programming in C++

• declaring a class
• access specifiers
• friend specifier grants access privileges to private/protected parts for non-member classes or functions
• initializer lists

Special member functions

• default constructor initializes the object with default contents
• copy constructor initializes the object with the contents of another object
• move constructor initializes the object with the contents of other, temporary object, minimizing copying overhead Template:mark c++11 feature
• assignment operator replaces the contents of the object with the contents of another object
• move assignment operator replaces the contents of the object with the contents of other, temporary object, minimizing copying overhead Template:mark c++11 feature
• destructor releases claimed resources

Templates

Allows functions and classes to operate on generic types

• template declaration