A C++ standard is a ratified specification for the language and standard library. ISO’s Working Group 21 (WG21) develops new versions through committee proposals, papers, and implementation experiments. section 1.1
Since 2011, a new standard has appeared every three years. Each version adds features and sometimes simplifies existing techniques, although upgrading an established codebase can require substantial work. section 1.1
A standard matters because it:
- Provides common language features and library facilities instead of relying on niche in-house implementations. section 1.1
- Influences other languages through ideas such as templates and lambdas. section 1.1
- Requires compiler support, which may lag behind the latest version because no single compiler implements every feature. section 1.6
Checking support
Test a short snippet with Godbolt or C++ Insights to see whether a compiler accepts the feature you want to use and to inspect what the code becomes. section 1.6
