API Design for C++, 2nd Edition

7: C++ revisions

Abstract

The C++ standard went through its first major update with the introduction of C++11 in 2011. Since that time, the ISO standard committee has released several further updates on a regular cadence, including C++14, C++17, C++20, and C++23. This chapter takes each of these revisions in term and describes all the important application programming interface (API) design features introduced by each update. For example, smart points, enum classes, and the Rule of Five were introduced in C++11. The auto return type and deprecated attribute were added in C++14. Inline variables and the optional, any, and variant types were added to C++17. Modules and the spaceship operator appeared in C++20 and expected values were introduced ...