Attributes in C

Attributes are one of modern C++ key features. It is the process by which initiator can add more information to the language instead of introducing new keywords for every attribute. It helps to decorate a code accomplishment in C, and C++ languages. Some of these attributes are written in standard syntax[[at]] and some are in non-standard syntax.

Syntax:

identifier: [[indication]]

Except some specific ones, almost all the attributes can be adapted with functions, classes structures etc.

Purpose of attributes in C++

Conditions to be imposed on code:

To meet the execution needs, the constraints in the C language are referred to a condition and in the updated versions of C++, the code for describing conditions is written in this way.

int f (int i)
{
if (i>0)
           return i;
else:
           return -1;
       //code
}

It enhances the code understandability,and it avoids the misconception in the code that is written inside the code function for the checking of the arguments.

int f (int i) [[expects: i>0]]
              {
                    //code
}

To provide extra information to the compiler for expansion purposes:

Compilers are good at expansion but compare to humans; they lag at some places and propose a code which is insufficient. The main reason behind this the information which is to get on has been lacked off. about the problem which humans have. To overcome this problem, the C++ has introduced a new way with adding new attributes to it and the code for the implementation of the attributes is:

int f (int i)
{
      switch(i) {
      case 1:
           [[fall through]];
           [[likely]] case 2: return 1;
       }
       return -1;
  }

The overall performance of the code totally depends on the compiler. When the statements are headed by the compiler, the performance automatically improves. Examples of some such attributes are:

For example:

[carries_ dependency], [likely], [unlikely]

Overcoming some of the warnings and errors that the users have in the code

When a user deploy a code, in some cases, the user intentionally overwrites the wrong code with some mistakes and it results in errors which is identified by the complier and one such case arises in the switch and break statements

For example:

#include<iostream>
#include <string>


int main ()
{
       //setting debugging mode in compiler or ‘R’
       [[maybe unused]] char mg_brk = ‘D’;


      //compiler does not release errors on unused variables
}

List of standard attributes in C++

C++11

1. no return:This indicates function that doesn’t return value

Usage:

[[no return]] void f ();

If a function contains void type, it returns to caller without any value but in the case of an infinity loop, it does not return to caller but adding a no return provides hints to compiler to expand code.

Following is an example code which provides clearcut information,

#include<iostream>
           #include<string>
           [[no return]] void f ()
           {


}
void g ()
             {
std: count << “code is intended to reach here”;
}
               int main ()
               {
                     f ();
                      g ();
                 }

Warning:

main.cpp: In function ‘void f ()’ :

     main.cpp: warning: ‘no return’ function does return

           }

C++14

2. deprecated: It indicates that name declared with this attribute became antiquated and must not be used for specific reason. It can be applied to namespace, functions, and classes.

Usage:

[[deprecated (“reason for deprecation”)]]


           // for class/struct/union
struct [[deprecated]] s;


//for functions
           [[deprecated]] void f ();


           //for namespaces
Namespace [[deprecated]] ns {}


//for variables 
           [[deprecated]] int x;

Example:

#include<iostream>
                 #include<string>
                 [[deprecated (“Susceptible to buffer overflow”)]] void gets(char* str)
                 {


                  }
void gets-n(std::string& str)
{
                          char st[100];
std::cout<< “Successfully Executed”;
std::cin.getline(st, 100);
str= std:: string(st);
                     }
                     int main ()
{
                              char a [100];
                               gets (a);
                     }

Warning:

main.cpp: in function ‘int main ()’ :

                      main.cpp: warning: ‘void gets(char*)’ is deprecated:

         Susceptible to buffer overflow [-Wdeprecated-declarations]

                                             gets (a);

C++17

3. no discard: The difference between the no discard with function and no discard with class is that, in case of function no discard is applied to function which declares as no discard but in class, it is applied to each function which return no discard entity by value.

Usage:

// functions
      [[no discard]] void f ();


      //class/struct declaration
       Struct [[no discard]] my -struct {};

Example:

#include<iostream>
#include<string>


       //value which returns must be used by caller
       [[no discard]] int f ()
        {
                      return 0;
 }  


            class [[no discard]] my _ class {};
            my _ class fun ()
            {
return my _ class ();
             }


int main ()
              {
                        int x {1};


                        // as value is used no error
                       // x=f();


                      // error: value is not used
                       f ();
                       // value not used error
                       // fun ();


                       return x;
}

Warning:

prog.cpp:warning: ‘no discard’ attribute ignores [-Wattributes]

          [[no discard]] int f ()

    prog.cpp: warning: ‘no discard’ attribute directive ignores [-wattributes]

            class [[no discard]] my _ class {};

4. maybe _ unused: It isused to summarize warnings on any unused object.

    Usage:

//variables
          [[ maybe_ used]] bool log _ var = true;
         //functions
         [[maybe_ unused]] void log_ without_ warning ();


         //function arguments
         Void f ([[maybe_ unused]] int a, int b);

Example:

#include<iostream>
          #include<string>
          int main ()
          {
[[maybe_ unused]] char mg_brk = ‘D’;


           }