# C++20
## Overview
Many of these descriptions and examples come from various resources (see [Acknowledgements](#acknowledgements) section), summarized in my own words.
C++20 includes the following new language features:
- [concepts](#concepts)
- [designated initializers](#designated-initializers)
- [template syntax for lambdas](#template-syntax-for-lambdas)
- [range-based for loop with initializer](#range-based-for-loop-with-initializer)
- [likely and unlikely attributes](#likely-and-unlikely-attributes)
- [deprecate implicit capture of this](#deprecate-implicit-capture-of-this)
- [class types in non-type template parameters](#class-types-in-non-type-template-parameters)
- [constexpr virtual functions](#constexpr-virtual-functions)
- [explicit(bool)](#explicitbool)
- [char8_t](#char8_t)
- [immediate functions](#immediate-functions)
- [using enum](#using-enum)
C++20 includes the following new library features:
- [concepts library](#concepts-library)
- [synchronized buffered outputstream](#synchronized-buffered-outputstream)
- [std::span](#stdspan)
- [bit operations](#bit-operations)
- [math constants](#math-constants)
- [std::is_constant_evaluated](#stdis_constant_evaluated)
## C++20 Language Features
### Concepts
_Concepts_ are named compile-time predicates which constrain types. They take the following form:
```
template < template-parameter-list >
concept concept-name = constraint-expression;
```
where `constraint-expression` evaluates to a constexpr Boolean. _Constraints_ should model semantic requirements, such as whether a type is a numeric or hashable. A compiler error results if a given type does not satisfy the concept it's bound by (i.e. `constraint-expression` returns `false`). Because constraints are evaluated at compile-time, they can provide more meaningful error messages and runtime safety.
```c++
// `T` is not limited by any constraints.
template
concept always_satisfied = true;
// Limit `T` to integrals.
template
concept integral = std::is_integral_v;
// Limit `T` to both the `integral` constraint and signedness.
template
concept signed_integral = integral && std::is_signed_v;
// Limit `T` to both the `integral` constraint and the negation of the `signed_integral` constraint.
template
concept unsigned_integral = integral && !signed_integral;
```
There are a variety of syntactic forms for enforcing concepts:
```c++
// Forms for function parameters:
// `T` is a constrained type template parameter.
template
void f(T v);
// `T` is a constrained type template parameter.
template
requires my_concept
void f(T v);
// `T` is a constrained type template parameter.
template
void f(T v) requires my_concept;
// `v` is a constrained deduced parameter.
void f(my_concept auto v);
// `v` is a constrained non-type template parameter.
template
void g();
// Forms for auto-deduced variables:
// `foo` is a constrained auto-deduced value.
my_concept auto foo = ...;
// Forms for lambdas:
// `T` is a constrained type template parameter.
auto f = [] (T v) {
// ...
};
// `T` is a constrained type template parameter.
auto f = [] requires my_concept (T v) {
// ...
};
// `T` is a constrained type template parameter.
auto f = [] (T v) requires my_concept {
// ...
};
// `v` is a constrained deduced parameter.
auto f = [](my_concept auto v) {
// ...
};
// `v` is a constrained non-type template parameter.
auto g = [] () {
// ...
};
```
The `requires` keyword is used either to start a requires clause or a requires expression:
```c++
template
requires my_concept // `requires` clause.
void f(T);
template
concept callable = requires (T f) { f(); }; // `requires` expression.
template
requires requires (T x) { x + x; } // `requires` clause and expression on same line.
T add(T a, T b) {
return a + b;
}
```
Note that the parameter list in a requires expression is optional. Each requirement in a requires expression are one of the following:
* **Simple requirements** - asserts that the given expression is valid.
```c++
template
concept callable = requires (T f) { f(); };
```
* **Type requirements** - denoted by the `typename` keyword followed by a type name, asserts that the given type name is valid.
```c++
struct foo {
int foo;
};
struct bar {
using value = int;
value data;
};
struct baz {
using value = int;
value data;
};
// Using SFINAE, enable if `T` is a `baz`.
template >>
struct S {};
template
using Ref = T&;
template
concept C = requires {
// Requirements on type `T`:
typename T::value; // A) has an inner member named `value`
typename S; // B) must have a valid class template specialization for `S`
typename Ref; // C) must be a valid alias template substitution
};
template
void g(T a);
g(foo{}); // ERROR: Fails requirement A.
g(bar{}); // ERROR: Fails requirement B.
g(baz{}); // PASS.
```
* **Compound requirements** - an expression in braces followed by a trailing return type or type constraint.
```c++
template
concept C = requires(T x) {
{*x} -> typename T::inner; // the type of the expression `*x` is convertible to `T::inner`
{x + 1} -> std::same_as; // the expression `x + 1` satisfies `std::same_as`
{x * 1} -> T; // the type of the expression `x * 1` is convertible to `T`
};
```
* **Nested requirements** - denoted by the `requires` keyword, specify additional constraints (such as those on local parameter arguments).
```c++
template
concept C = requires(T x) {
requires std::same_as;
};
```
See also: [concepts library](#concepts-library).
### Designated initializers
C-style designated initializer syntax. Any member fields that are not explicitly listed in the designated initializer list are default-initialized.
```c++
struct A {
int x;
int y;
int z = 123;
};
A a {.x = 1, .z = 2}; // a.x == 1, a.y == 0, a.z == 2
```
### Template syntax for lambdas
Use familiar template syntax in lambda expressions.
```c++
auto f = [](std::vector v) {
// ...
};
```
### Range-based for loop with initializer
This feature simplifies common code patterns, helps keep scopes tight, and offers an elegant solution to a common lifetime problem.
```c++
for (auto v = std::vector{1, 2, 3}; auto& e : v) {
std::cout << e;
}
// prints "123"
```
### likely and unlikely attributes
Provides a hint to the optimizer that the labelled statement is likely/unlikely to have its body executed.
```c++
int random = get_random_number_between_x_and_y(0, 3);
[[likely]] if (random > 0) {
// body of if statement
// ...
}
[[unlikely]] while (unlikely_truthy_condition) {
// body of while statement
// ...
}
```
### Deprecate implicit capture of this
Implicitly capturing `this` in a lamdba capture using `[=]` is now deprecated; prefer capturing explicitly using `[=, this]` or `[=, *this]`.
```c++
struct int_value {
int n = 0;
auto getter_fn() {
// BAD:
// return [=]() { return n; };
// GOOD:
return [=, *this]() { return n; };
}
};
```
### Class types in non-type template parameters
Classes can now be used in non-type template parameters. Objects passed in as template arguments have the type `const T`, where `T` is the type of the object, and has static storage duration.
```c++
struct foo {
foo() = default;
constexpr foo(int) {}
};
template
auto get_foo() {
return f;
}
get_foo(); // uses implicit constructor
get_foo();
```
### constexpr virtual functions
Virtual functions can now be `constexpr` and evaluated at compile-time. `constexpr` virtual functions can override non-`constexpr` virtual functions and vice-versa.
```c++
struct X1 {
virtual int f() const = 0;
};
struct X2: public X1 {
constexpr virtual int f() const { return 2; }
};
struct X3: public X2 {
virtual int f() const { return 3; }
};
struct X4: public X3 {
constexpr virtual int f() const { return 4; }
};
constexpr X4 x4;
x4.f(); // == 4
```
### explicit(bool)
Conditionally select at compile-time whether a constructor is made explicit or not. `explicit(true)` is the same as specifying `explicit`.
```c++
struct foo {
// Specify non-integral types (strings, floats, etc.) require explicit construction.
template
explicit(!std::is_integral_v) foo(T) {}
};
foo a = 123; // OK
foo b = "123"; // ERROR: explicit constructor is not a candidate (explicit specifier evaluates to true)
foo c {"123"}; // OK
```
### char8_t
Provides a standard type for representing UTF-8 strings.
```c++
char8_t utf8_str[] = u8"\u0123";
```
### Immediate functions
Similar to `constexpr` functions, but functions with a `consteval` specifier must produce a constant. These are called `immediate functions`.
```c++
consteval int sqr(int n) {
return n * n;
}
constexpr int r = sqr(100); // OK
int x = 100;
int r2 = sqr(x); // ERROR: the value of 'x' is not usable in a constant expression
// OK if `sqr` were a `constexpr` function
```
### using enum
Bring an enum's members into scope to improve readability. Before:
```c++
enum class rgba_color_channel { red, green, blue, alpha };
std::string_view to_string(rgba_color_channel channel) {
switch (channel) {
case rgba_color_channel::red: return "red";
case rgba_color_channel::green: return "green";
case rgba_color_channel::blue: return "blue";
case rgba_color_channel::alpha: return "alpha";
}
}
```
After:
```c++
enum class rgba_color_channel { red, green, blue, alpha };
std::string_view to_string(rgba_color_channel my_channel) {
switch (my_channel) {
using enum rgba_color_channel;
case red: return "red";
case green: return "green";
case blue: return "blue";
case alpha: return "alpha";
}
}
```
## C++20 Library Features
### Concepts library
Concepts are also provided by the standard library for building more complicated concepts. Some of these include:
**Core language concepts:**
- `same_as` - specifies two types are the same.
- `derived_from` - specifies that a type is derived from another type.
- `convertible_to` - specifies that a type is implicitly convertible to another type.
- `common_with` - specifies that two types share a common type.
- `integral` - specifies that a type is an integral type.
- `default_constructible` - specifies that an object of a type can be default-constructed.
**Comparison concepts:**
- `boolean` - specifies that a type can be used in Boolean contexts.
- `equality_comparable` - specifies that `operator==` is an equivalence relation.
**Object concepts:**
- `movable` - specifies that an object of a type can be moved and swapped.
- `copyable` - specifies that an object of a type can be copied, moved, and swapped.
- `semiregular` - specifies that an object of a type can be copied, moved, swapped, and default constructed.
- `regular` - specifies that a type is _regular_, that is, it is both `semiregular` and `equality_comparable`.
**Callable concepts:**
- `invocable` - specifies that a callable type can be invoked with a given set of argument types.
- `predicate` - specifies that a callable type is a Boolean predicate.
See also: [concepts](#concepts).
### Synchronized buffered outputstream
Buffers output operations for the wrapped output stream ensuring synchronization (i.e. no interleaving of output).
```c++
std::osyncstream{std::cout} << "The value of x is:" << x << std::endl;
```
### std::span
A span is a view (i.e. non-owning) of a container providing bounds-checked access to a contiguous group of elements. Since views do not own their elements they are cheap to construct and copy -- a simplified way to think about views is they are holding references to their data. Spans can be dynamically-sized or fixed-sized.
```c++
void f(std::span ints) {
std::for_each(ints.begin(), ints.end(), [](auto i) {
// ...
});
}
std::vector v = {1, 2, 3};
f(v);
std::array a = {1, 2, 3};
f(a);
// etc.
```
Example: as opposed to maintaining a pointer and length field, a span wraps both of those up in a single container.
```c++
constexpr size_t LENGTH_ELEMENTS = 3;
int* arr = new int[LENGTH_ELEMENTS]; // arr = {0, 0, 0}
// Fixed-sized span which provides a view of `arr`.
std::span span = arr;
span[1] = 1; // arr = {0, 1, 0}
// Dynamic-sized span which provides a view of `arr`.
std::span d_span = arr;
span[0] = 1; // arr = {1, 1, 0}
```
```c++
constexpr size_t LENGTH_ELEMENTS = 3;
int* arr = new int[LENGTH_ELEMENTS];
std::span span = arr; // OK
std::span span2 = arr; // ERROR
std::span span3 = arr; // ERROR
```
### Bit operations
C++20 provides a new `` header which provides some bit operations including popcount.
```c++
std::popcount(0u); // 0
std::popcount(1u); // 1
std::popcount(0b1111'0000u); // 4
```
### Math constants
Mathematical constants including PI, Euler's number, etc. defined in the `` header.
```c++
std::numbers::pi; // 3.14159...
std::numbers::e; // 2.71828...
```
### std::is_constant_evaluated
Predicate function which is truthy when it is called in a compile-time context.
```c++
constexpr bool is_compile_time() {
return std::is_constant_evaluated();
}
constexpr bool a = is_compile_time(); // true
bool b = is_compile_time(); // false
```
## Acknowledgements
* [cppreference](http://en.cppreference.com/w/cpp) - especially useful for finding examples and documentation of new library features.
* [C++ Rvalue References Explained](http://thbecker.net/articles/rvalue_references/section_01.html) - a great introduction I used to understand rvalue references, perfect forwarding, and move semantics.
* [clang](http://clang.llvm.org/cxx_status.html) and [gcc](https://gcc.gnu.org/projects/cxx-status.html)'s standards support pages. Also included here are the proposals for language/library features that I used to help find a description of, what it's meant to fix, and some examples.
* [Compiler explorer](https://godbolt.org/)
* [Scott Meyers' Effective Modern C++](https://www.amazon.com/Effective-Modern-Specific-Ways-Improve/dp/1491903996) - highly recommended book!
* [Jason Turner's C++ Weekly](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxHAlbZQNFU2LgEtiqd2Maw) - nice collection of C++-related videos.
* [What can I do with a moved-from object?](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/7027523/what-can-i-do-with-a-moved-from-object)
* [What are some uses of decltype(auto)?](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/24109737/what-are-some-uses-of-decltypeauto)
* And many more SO posts I'm forgetting...
## Author
Anthony Calandra
## Content Contributors
See: https://github.com/AnthonyCalandra/modern-cpp-features/graphs/contributors
## License
MIT