Different Versions of C++
Programming languages such as C++ have developed over time, and new features, enhancements, and bug fixes have been added in multiple releases. An overview of some of the most popular C++ versions is provided below:
- C++98 (ISO/IEC 14882:1998):
- Released in 1998, it was the first version of C++ that was standardized.
- Several features from previous C++ compilers were formalized.
- Namespaces, the 'bool' type, and the Standard Template Library (STL) were among the features it introduced.
- Standard Template Library (STL): The Standard Template Library (STL) is a collection of template classes and functions that includes containers (like vectors, lists, and queues) and algorithms (like sorting and searching). The STL was standardised in C++98.
- Namespaces: Namespaces were first introduced to help developers group related code under a common identifier and avoid naming conflicts.
- C++03 (ISO/IEC 14882:2003):
- A few mistakes and inconsistencies in C++98 were fixed in this version.
- It addressed bugs and clarified the specification rather than adding new features.
- C++11 (ISO/IEC 14882:2011):
- The language underwent substantial improvements with the release of this version in 2011.
- Lambda expressions, auto keyword, nullptr, range-based for loops, and smart pointers were among the features it brought in.
- Features like std::move and std::thread were added, which also improved the Standard Template Library (STL).
- Auto Keyword: By enabling the compiler to infer a variable's data type during compilation, the "auto" keyword helps to cut down on code redundancy.
- Lambda Expressions: Lambda functions enhance the readability of code by giving anonymous functions a condensed definition in-place.
- Null ptr: As a more secure option to the conventional NULL pointer, nullptr was introduced.
- range-based for loops: Code readability is improved by range-based for loops, which have a simplified syntax for iterating over elements in a range.
- Two new smart pointers were introduced: std::unique_ptr and std::shared_ptr to manage dynamic memory more effectively and lower the risk of memory leaks.
- C++14 (ISO/IEC 14882:2014):
- The 2014 release of C++14 was mostly devoted to bug fixes and minor enhancements.
- While adding features like generic lambdas and enhancing constexpr, it kept backward compatibility with C++11.
- Generic Lambdas: Lambda functions now accept auto as a parameter type to accommodate a wider variety of argument types.
- Constexpr Improvements: More use cases are supported by the constexpr keyword now that it has been expanded, enabling compile-time evaluation of specific functions and operations.
- C++17 (ISO/IEC 14882:2017):
- C++17 was released in 2017 and brought with it a number of enhancements and new features.
- The Standard Template Library now has parallel algorithms, std::optional, std::variant, and several language improvements.
- Optional std and variable std: They were introduced to handle optional and variant values in a safer manner.
- Parallel Algorithms: Several algorithms were parallelized and added to the Standard Template Library (STL) to take advantage of multi-core processors and achieve better performance.
- C++20 (ISO/IEC 14882:2020):
- The significant update C++20, which was released in 2020, includes a tonne of new features and enhancements.
- Significant additions include concepts, ranges, coroutines, and modules.
- Concepts: Using concepts, developers can better document their code and improve template error messages by imposing constraints on template parameters.
- Ranges: Code involving iterators and containers is made simpler by the new abstractions for working with elemental sequences that the Ranges library introduced.
- Co-routines: Co-routines make asynchronous programming possible by enabling the pause and resume of functions.
- Modules: By decreasing dependencies and speeding up compilation times, modules offer a more effective and modular substitute for conventional header files.
- Expected for C++23:
- The next major release was expected to be C++23 as of the recent knowledge update in January 2022. The language would probably get more features and improvements as a result, though the exact details would depend on the official release.
- New algorithms and data structures were added to the Standard Template Library (STL).
Conclusion:
The language's expressiveness, efficiency, and functionality have all been improved over the course of C++'s evolution through different iterations. Every version of the language, starting with C++98, which brought namespaces and the Standard Template Library (STL), and ending with C++20, which debuted novel features like Concepts, Ranges, Coroutines, and Modules, has attempted to meet the changing demands of programmers. The addition of important features like lambda expressions, smart pointers, and parallel algorithms in C++11 and C++17 demonstrates the goal of enhancing code readability, safety, and performance. C++ community collaboration and its commitment to maintaining C++ as a strong and adaptable programming language for a broad range of applications are demonstrated by the ongoing standardization process, which is expected to continue with C++23.