10 C++ Programming Tricks You Should Know

In C++, programming provides developers with a wealth of tools and methods to improve their coding productivity, which is well-known for its performance and versatility. In the world of C++, knowing a few tips and tricks can greatly improve your programming skills.

The ternary operator, which may express conditional statements succinctly in a single line and improve code readability, is the first element on the list. After that, we'll look at the extent to which effective and efficient code can be by using the Standard Template Library's (STL) algorithms to significantly simplify intricate tasks. Furthermore, by automatically managing memory deallocation and avoiding frequent problems related to raw pointers, smart pointers like unique_ptr and shared_ptr improve memory management. The generation of highly optimized code is made possible by the complex but powerful approach of template meta-programming, which enables compile-time computation. The constexpr keyword enhances this feature even more by ensuring that specific expressions are evaluated at build time.

Code maintainability and redundancy are increased when type inference is enabled using the auto keyword. When lambda expressions are used, as they were in C++11, short, inline functions can be created, which improves the expressiveness and conciseness of code. Const-correctness, a best practise that helps to prevent accidental changes to variables, encourages the writing of robust, error-free code. C++11 introduced move semantics, a feature that increases efficiency by efficiently moving resources between objects. The placement new operator provides the last and most powerful memory allocation control feature, which enables developers to place items at precise memory regions.

The 10 Different C++ Programming Tricks:

There are several programming tricks in C++. Some main tricks are as follows:

• Ternary Operator for Concise Conditionals: To improve code readability, write conditional statements succinctly in a single line by using the ternary operator (? :).

Syntax:

It has the following syntax:

int x = 5;

int y = (x > 0) ? 10 : 0;

• STL Algorithms for Effective Operations: Promote code reuse and efficiency by using the Standard Template Library's (STL) algorithms to carry out common operations on data structures.

Syntax:

It has the following syntax:

#include <algorithm>

#include <vector>

// ...

std::vector<int> numbers = {4, 2, 8, 5, 1};

std::sort(numbers.begin(), numbers.end());

• Smart Pointers for Improved Memory Management: Using smart pointers, such as shared_ptr and unique_ptr, to automate memory deallocation that can improve memory management by lowering the risk of memory leaks that come with using raw pointers.

Syntax:

It has the following syntax:

#include <memory>

// ...

std::unique_ptr<int> ptr = std::make_unique<int>(42);

• Template Metaprogramming for Compile-Time Computation: Investigate Template Metaprogramming for build-Time Computation to generate extremely flexible and optimized code by doing computations at build time.

Syntax:

It has the following syntax:

template <int N>

struct Factorial {

 static const int value = N * Factorial<N - 1>::value;

};

template <>

struct Factorial<0> {

 static const int value = 1;

};

int result = Factorial<5>::value; // Compile-time computed factorial of 5

• Const-Correctness for Robust Code: Follow const-correctness guidelines to protect against inadvertent variable mutation, which will increase the maintainability and robustness of your code.

Syntax:

It has the following syntax:

const int constantValue = 100;

// constantValue = 50; // Error: Cannot modify a const variable

• Auto Keyword for Type Inference: Use of the auto keyword for type inference can reduce redundant variable declarations and improve the readability and conciseness of code.

Syntax:

It has the following syntax:

std::vector<int> numbers = {1, 2, 3, 4};

for (auto it = numbers.begin(); it != numbers.end(); ++it) {

 // 'it' is automatically inferred as std::vector<int>::iterator

}

• Lambda Expressions for Inline Functions: For more readability and expressiveness in your code, write short, inline functions using the lambda expressions that C++11 introduced.

Syntax:

It has the following syntax:

auto add = [](int a, int b) { return a + b; };

int result = add(3, 4);

• Move Semantics for Efficient Resource Transfer: Reduce needless copies and increase efficiency by employing move semantics, which was added in C++11.

Syntax:

It has the following syntax:

#include <utility>

// ...

std::vector<int> source = {1, 2, 3};

std::vector<int> destination = std::move(source); // Efficient move

• Constexpr Keyword for Compile-Time Evaluation: Use the constexpr keyword to make sure that some expressions are evaluated at build time. It will enable quicker computations and optimizations.

Syntax:

It has the following syntax:

constexpr int square(int x) {

 return x * x;

}

int result = square(5); // Evaluated at compile time

• Placement New Operator for Advanced Memory Allocation: Use the placement new operator to handle memory allocation more precisely by putting items in memory at designated locations.

Syntax:

It has the following syntax:

#include <iostream>

// ...

void* memory = operator new(sizeof(int)); // Allocate memory

int* placementNewInt = new (memory) int(42); // Placement new

std::cout << *placementNewInt << std::endl;

Example 1:

Let's take an example to illustrate how to implement these tricks in C++.

#include <iostream>

#include <algorithm>

#include <vector>

#include <memory>

// Ternary Operator for Concise Conditionals

void ternaryOperatorExample() {

 int x = 5;

 int y = (x > 0) ? 10 : 0;

 std::cout << "Ternary Operator Result: " << y << std::endl;

}

// STL Algorithms for Efficient Operations

void stlAlgorithmsExample() {

 std::vector<int> numbers = {4, 2, 8, 5, 1};

 std::sort(numbers.begin(), numbers.end());

 std::cout << "Sorted Numbers: ";

 for (int num : numbers) {

 std::cout << num << " ";

 }

 std::cout << std::endl;

}

// Smart Pointers for Improved Memory Management

void smartPointersExample() {

 std::unique_ptr<int> ptr = std::make_unique<int>(42);

 std::cout << "Smart Pointer Value: " << *ptr << std::endl;

}

// Template Metaprogramming for Compile-Time Computation

template <int N>

struct Factorial {

 static const int value = N * Factorial<N - 1>::value;

};

template <>

struct Factorial<0> {

 static const int value = 1;

};

void templateMetaprogrammingExample() {

 int result = Factorial<5>::value;

 std::cout << "Factorial of 5: " << result << std::endl;

}

// Const-Correctness for Robust Code

void constCorrectnessExample() {

 const int constantValue = 100;

 // constantValue = 50; // Uncommenting this line will result in a compilation error

}

// Auto Keyword for Type Inference

void autoKeywordExample() {

 std::vector<int> numbers = {1, 2, 3, 4};

 for (auto it = numbers.begin(); it != numbers.end(); ++it) {

 // 'it' is automatically inferred as std::vector<int>::iterator

 std::cout << *it << " ";

 }

 std::cout << std::endl;

}

// Lambda Expressions for Inline Functions

void lambdaExpressionsExample() {

 auto add = [](int a, int b) { return a + b; };

 int result = add(3, 4);

 std::cout << "Lambda Expression Result: " << result << std::endl;

}

// Move Semantics for Efficient Resource Transfer

void moveSemanticsExample() {

 std::vector<int> source = {1, 2, 3};

 std::vector<int> destination = std::move(source);

 std::cout << "Moved Vector Size: " << destination.size() << std::endl;

}

// Constexpr Keyword for Compile-Time Evaluation

constexpr int square(int x) {

 return x * x;

}

void constexprKeywordExample() {

 int result = square(5);

 std::cout << "Square of 5 (constexpr): " << result << std::endl;

}

// Placement New Operator for Advanced Memory Allocation

void placementNewOperatorExample() {

 void* memory = operator new(sizeof(int));

 int* placementNewInt = new (memory) int(42);

 std::cout << "Placement New Operator Result: " << *placementNewInt << std::endl;

}

int main() {

 ternaryOperatorExample();

 stlAlgorithmsExample();

 smartPointersExample();

 templateMetaprogrammingExample();

 constCorrectnessExample();

 autoKeywordExample();

 lambdaExpressionsExample();

 moveSemanticsExample();

 constexprKeywordExample();

 placementNewOperatorExample();

 return 0;

}

Output:

Ternary Operator Result: 10

Sorted Numbers: 1 2 4 5 8

Smart Pointer Value: 42

Factorial of 5: 1201 2 3 4

Lambda Expression Result: 7

Moved Vector Size: 3

Square of 5 (constexpr): 25

Placement New Operator Result: 42

Example 2:

Let's take another example to illustrate how to implement these tricks in C++.

#include <iostream>

#include <algorithm>

#include <vector>

#include <memory>

// Ternary Operator for Concise Conditionals

void ternaryOperatorExample() {

 int x = -2;

 int y = (x > 0) ? 10 : 0;

 std::cout << "Ternary Operator Result: " << y << std::endl;

}

// STL Algorithms for Efficient Operations

void stlAlgorithmsExample() {

 std::vector<int> numbers = {10, 5, 8, 2, 7};

 std::sort(numbers.begin(), numbers.end(), std::greater<int>());

 std::cout << "Sorted Numbers (Descending): ";

 for (int num : numbers) {

 std::cout << num << " ";

 }

 std::cout << std::endl;

}

// Smart Pointers for Improved Memory Management

void smartPointersExample() {

 std::unique_ptr<double> ptr = std::make_unique<double>(3.14);

 std::cout << "Smart Pointer Value: " << *ptr << std::endl;

}

// Template Metaprogramming for Compile-Time Computation

template <int N>

struct PowerOfTwo {

 static const int value = 1 << N;

};

void templateMetaprogrammingExample() {

 int result = PowerOfTwo<3>::value;

 std::cout << "2^3 (Power of Two): " << result << std::endl;

}

// Const-Correctness for Robust Code

void constCorrectnessExample() {

 const double pi = 3.14159;

 // pi = 2.0; // Uncommenting this line will result in a compilation error

}

// Auto Keyword for Type Inference

void autoKeywordExample() {

 std::vector<std::string> words = {"apple", "banana", "orange", "grape"};

 for (auto it = words.begin(); it != words.end(); ++it) {

 // 'it' is automatically inferred as std::vector<std::string>::iterator

 std::cout << *it << " ";

 }

 std::cout << std::endl;

}

// Lambda Expressions for Inline Functions

void lambdaExpressionsExample() {

 auto multiply = [](int a, int b) { return a * b; };

 int result = multiply(4, 7);

 std::cout << "Lambda Expression Result: " << result << std::endl;

}

// Move Semantics for Efficient Resource Transfer

void moveSemanticsExample() {

 std::vector<std::string> source = {"one", "two", "three"};

 std::vector<std::string> destination = std::move(source);

 std::cout << "Moved Vector Size: " << destination.size() << std::endl;

}

// Constexpr Keyword for Compile-Time Evaluation

constexpr int cube(int x) {

 return x * x * x;

}

void constexprKeywordExample() {

 int result = cube(4);

 std::cout << "Cube of 4 (constexpr): " << result << std::endl;

}

// Placement New Operator for Advanced Memory Allocation

void placementNewOperatorExample() {

 void* memory = operator new(sizeof(char));

 char* placementNewChar = new (memory) char('A');

 std::cout << "Placement New Operator Result: " << *placementNewChar << std::endl;

}

int main() {

 ternaryOperatorExample();

 stlAlgorithmsExample();

 smartPointersExample();

 templateMetaprogrammingExample();

 constCorrectnessExample();

 autoKeywordExample();

 lambdaExpressionsExample();

 moveSemanticsExample();

 constexprKeywordExample();

 placementNewOperatorExample();

 return 0;

}

Output:

Ternary Operator Result: 0

Sorted Numbers (Descending): 10 8 7 5 2

Smart Pointer Value: 3.14

2^3 (Power of Two): 8

apple banana orange grape

Lambda Expression Result: 28

Moved Vector Size: 3

Cube of 4 (constexpr): 64

Placement New Operator Result: A