CppBites - Survey

C++ Core, C++11, C++14, C++17, C++20

C++ is a large, powerful, and complex language. The pages in this "CppBites" thread discuss the C++ programming language in relatively small bite-sized chunks. It is intended to complement the C++ Story

The language comes in two parts. The core language was defined by standards C++98 and C++03. Additions, refinements, and simplifications have been added in standards C++11, C++14, C++17, and C++20.

The language, as ammended by C++11 ... C++20, is referred to as "modern C++".

Table 1. - C++ core features

Feature	Contents
memory model	static, stack, heap
type system	primitive, library, user-defined
Classes	layout, anatomy, default operations
Templates	template functions and classes
Standard Template Library	containers, iterators, and algorithms

The table below summarizes additions and modifications to C++ in recent editions starting with C++11.

Table 2. - C++ feature additions

C++ 11	Contents
auto	type inference declaration
shared_ptr	reference counting smart pointer
range-based for loops	iterations over collections
move	transfer ownership of resources
lambdas	local anonymous functions
variadic templates	auto generated template arguments
more things	more additions and refinements
C++ 14	Contents
function return type deduction	declare type deduced by compiler
variable templates	variables with template types
aggregate member initialization	initializes aggregate from braced initialization list
generic lambdas	declare parameter type deduced by compiler (auto, auto&)
shared_mutex	provides both shared and exclusive access
tuple addressing via type	access members by type, not position
quoted stream	read and write quoted strings without editing
more things	more additions and refinements
C++ 17	Contents
if constexpr	compile time switch
structured bindings	bind bracketed list to aggregate, yields named member values
fold expression	expands parameter pack (from variadic) over binary operator
std::filesystem()	library for managing directory access
std::apply()	invoke callable object with tuple of arguments
std::any()	type-safe container for any copy-able type
more things	more additions and refinements
C++ 20	contents
concepts	type bounds for template arguments
ranges	interator-like object that contains members that are return types for iterator methods, e.g., begin for begin(), end for end()
std::format	string formatting library
modules	share declarations and definitions across translation units
coroutines	function that can suspend execution to be resumed later
operator <=> declaration	provides defaulted operations for <, =, >
__FILE__ and __LINE__	compile-time constants for current file and source line
more things	more additions and refinements

References

reference	comments
Wikipedia C++	Survey of language origin, evolution, and properties
C++ 11 - Herb Sutter video	Survey of important advancements
Back to Basics - Herb Sutter video	Thoughtful advice about developing with C++
C++ 11 - Wikipedia	Survey of C++ 11 standard
Writing good C++14 by default - Herb Sutter video	Writing relatively simple and clear C++ using features of C++14
C++ 14 - Wikipedia	Survey of C++ 14 standard
C++ 17 the good and ugly - Nicolai Josuttis video	Informed opinions about C++ 17
C++ 17 features - Bryce Lelbach video	Survey of selected features
C++ 17 - Wikipedia	Survey of C++ 17 standard
Almost complete overview of C++20 - Marc Gregoire video	Survey of C++ 20 standard
C++ 20 - Wikipedia	Survey of C++ 20 standard