Do you have in-depth knowledge of the new C and C++ standards? You feel you have learned everything, but have you learned about C17 or C++20 features like smart pointers, ranges, and how to use new memory management techniques? If yes, you are not using the critical toolsthat can take your coding to another level. This article will show you must-have resources and code samples and how keeping up with the recent ISO standards can make your code cleaner, safer, and more efficient. Read on to make sure you’re not left behind!
Table of Contents:
The Official Standards for C and C++
The official standards for C and C++ are maintained by the International Organization for Standardization(ISO). The ISO sells the full documents, but we can also access the free draft versions and summaries, which are also available online for reference purposes.
1. Official Sources(Paid)
2. Free Drafts & References
- C Standards(Older free versions)
- Summarized and Explained Versions
Basic Code Examples From C and C++ Standards
These are 2 basic code examples:
C (C17 Example) – Basic I/O and Memory Allocation
This C17 example using printf demonstrates basic input/output, and using malloc, the dynamic memory allocation takes place. Assigning free help for proper memory management. It initializes the arrays by assigning the values, printing them, and also ensuring memory is released to prevent leaks.
Example:
Output:
The C17 program prints a message, dynamically allocates the space for five integers using malloc, and checks whether the allocation was successful. The first part initializes an int array with 5 elements of size. It releases the allocated space for free, which is used after the memory becomes leak-free. This ensures efficient memory management and avoids crashes due to missing deallocation.
C++ (C++20 Example) – Ranges and Smart Pointers
This C++20 example showcases at least two modern features: ranges and smart pointers. Ranges help with operating on collections, such as filtering the even numbers from a vector using std::views::filter. Using smart pointers (std::unique_ptr), which automatically manage memory and eliminate the risk of memory leaks by ensuring proper deallocation when they go out of scope.
Example:
Output:
The above programming uses C++20 ranges and smart pointers, and it shows how they help. It filters even numbers out of a vector using std::views::filter and prints the even values (2, 4). The program also defines a smart pointer (std:: unique_pointer) to take care of dynamically allocated memory (an integer). By working with ranges to manipulate data and smart pointers to manage memory, the program takes advantage of C++20’s modern features that allow for coding to be cleaner and more efficient.
Conclusion
ISO maintains the official C and C++ standards, which, unfortunately, can only be accessed via purchase (some drafts and summaries are publicly available though). Although resources such as CppReference and C++ Working Drafts provide in-depth explanations. The above gives you a very good overview, and it also has example codes for C17 – malloc memory allocation and C++20 for ranges, smart pointers, etc. Drafts are helpful to find out about the newest best practices.
Where do I find the current C or C++ standard documents – FAQs
1. Where can I find the C and C++ standards?
ISO sells official standards, but free drafts and summaries can be found online.
2. What is the most recent version of the C standard?
The most recent C standard is C17; C23 is underway.
3. Which version of C++ is the most recent?
The most recent C++ standard is C++20, and the next is C++23.
4. Where can I find free C and C++ tutorials?
Yes, CppReference and WG21 GitHub are free drafts, summaries, and tutorials.
5. What are smart pointers in C++?
Smart pointers automatically handle memory, avoiding memory leaks and ensuring correct deallocation.