Doc. No.: D0096R1
Date: 2014-11-13
Reply to: Clark Nelson
Title: Feature-testing recommendations for C++

Feature-testing recommendations for C++

Preface

This revision of this document contains STUBS for sections expected to be filled in later.

Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Explanation and rationale for the approach
    1. Problem statement
    2. Status quo
    3. Characteristics of the proposed solution
  3. Recommendations
    1. Introduction
    2. Testing for the presence of a header: __has_include
    3. Testing for the presence of an attribute: __has_cpp_attribute
    4. C++17 features
    5. C++14 features
    6. C++11 features
    7. Conditionally-supported constructs (STUB)
    8. C++98 features (STUB)
    9. Features published and later removed
  4. Recommendations from Technical Specifications
  5. Detailed explanation and rationale
    1. C++14 features
    2. C++17 features
  6. Annex: Model wording for a Technical Specification
  7. Revision history

Introduction

At the September 2013 (Chicago) meeting of WG21, there was a five-way poll of all of the C++ experts in attendance – approximately 80 – concerning their support for the approach described herein for feature-testing in C++. The results of the poll:

Strongly favor Favor Neutral Oppose Strongly oppose
lots lots 1 0 0

This document was subsequently designated WG21's SD-6 (sixth standing document), which will continue to be maintained by SG10.

Explanation and rationale for the approach

Problem statement

The pace of innovation in the standardization of C++ makes long-term stability of implementations unlikely. Features are added to the language because programmers want to use those features. Features are added to (the working draft of) the standard as the features become well-specified. In many cases a feature is added to an implementation well before or well after the standard officially introducing it is approved.

This process makes it difficult for programmers who want to use a feature to know whether it is available in any given implementation. Implementations rarely leap from one formal revision of the standard directly to the next; the implementation process generally proceeds by smaller steps. As a result, testing for a specific revision of the standard (e.g. by examining the value of the __cplusplus macro) often gives the wrong answer. Implementers generally don't want to appear to be claiming full conformance to a standard revision until all of its features are implemented. That leaves programmers with no portable way to determine which features are actually available to them.

It is often possible for a program to determine, in a manner specific to a single implementation, what features are supported by that implementation; but the means are often poorly documented and ad hoc, and sometimes complex – especially when the availability of a feature is controlled by an invocation option. To make this determination for a variety of implementations in a single source base is complex and error-prone.

Status quo

Here is some code that attempts to determine whether rvalue references are available in the implementation in use:

#ifndef __USE_RVALUE_REFERENCES
  #if (__GNUC__ > 4 || __GNUC__ == 4 && __GNUC_MINOR__ >= 3) || \
      _MSC_VER >= 1600
    #if __EDG_VERSION__ > 0
      #define __USE_RVALUE_REFERENCES (__EDG_VERSION__ >= 410)
    #else
      #define __USE_RVALUE_REFERENCES 1
    #endif
  #elif __clang__
    #define __USE_RVALUE_REFERENCES __has_feature(cxx_rvalue_references)
  #else
    #define __USE_RVALUE_REFERENCES 0
  #endif
#endif

First, the GNU and Microsoft version numbers are checked to see if they are high enough. But then a check is made of the EDG version number, since that front end also has compatibility modes for both those compilers, and defines macros indicating (claimed) compatibility with them. If the feature wasn't implemented in the indicated EDG version, it is assumed that the feature is not available – even though it is possible for a customer of EDG to implement a feature before EDG does.

Fortunately Clang has ways to test specifically for the presence of specific features. But unfortunately, the function-call-like syntax used for such tests won't work with a standard preprocessor, so this fine new feature winds up adding its own flavor of complexity to the mix.

Also note that this code is only the beginning of a real-world solution. A complete solution would need to take into account more compilers, and also command-line option settings specific to various compilers.

Characteristics of the proposed solution

To preserve implementers' freedom to add features in the order that makes the most sense for themselves and their customers, implementers should indicate the availability of each separate feature by adding a definition of a macro with the name corresponding to that feature.

Important note: By recommending the use of these macros, WG21 is not making any feature optional; the absence of a definition for the relevant feature-test macro does not make an implementation that lacks a feature conform to a standard that requires the feature. However, if implementers and programmers follow these recommendations, portability of code between real-world implementations should be improved.

To a first approximation, a feature is identified by the WG21 paper in which it is specified, and by which it is introduced into the working draft of the standard. Not every paper introduces a new feature worth a feature-test macro, but every paper that is not just a collection of issue resolutions is considered a candidate; exceptions are explicitly justified.

For C++14, the feature-test macro name generally consists of some combination of words from the title of the paper. In the future, it is hoped that every paper will include its own recommendations concerning feature-test macro names.

The value specified for a feature-test macro is based on the year and month in which the feature is voted into the working draft. In a case where a feature is subsequently changed in a significant way, but arguably remains the same feature, the value of the macro is changed to indicate the “revision level” of the specification of the feature. However, in most cases it is expected that the presence of a feature can be determined by the presence of any non-zero macro value; for example:

#if __cpp_binary_literals
int const packed_zero_to_three = 0b00011011;
#else
int const packed_zero_to_three = 0x1B;
#endif

To avoid the user's namespace, names of macros for language features are prefixed by “__cpp_”; for library features, by “__cpp_lib_”. A library feature that doesn't introduce a new header is expected to be defined by the header(s) that implement the feature.

Recommendations

Introduction

For the sake of improved portability between partial implementations of various C++ standards, WG21 (the ISO technical committee for the C++ programming language) recommends that implementers and programmers follow the guidelines in this document concerning feature-test macros.

Implementers who provide a new standard feature should define a macro with the recommended name and value, in the same circumstances under which the feature is available (for example, taking into account relevant command-line options), to indicate the presence of support for that feature.

Programmers who wish to determine whether a feature is available in an implementation should base that determination on the state of the macro with the recommended name. (The absence of a tested feature may result in a program with decreased functionality, or the relevant functionality may be provided in a different way. A program that strictly depends on support for a feature can just try to use the feature unconditionally; presumably, on an implementation lacking necessary support, translation will fail. Therefore, if the most useful purpose for a feature-test macro would be to control the inclusion of a #error directive if the feature is unavailable, that is considered inadequate justification for the macro. Note that the usefulness of a test macro for a feature is completely independent of the usefulness of the feature itself.)

Testing for the presence of a header: __has_include

It is impossible for a C++ program to directly, reliably and portably determine whether or not a library header is available for inclusion. Conditionally including a header requires the use of a configuration macro, whose setting can be determined by a configuration-test process at build time (reliable, but less portable), or by some other means (often not reliable or portable).

To solve this general problem, WG21 recommends that implementers provide, and programmers use, the __has_include feature.

Syntax

h-preprocessing-token:
any preprocessing-token other than >
h-pp-tokens:
h-preprocessing-token
h-pp-tokens h-preprocessing-token
has-include-expression:
__has_include ( header-name )
__has_include ( string-literal )
__has_include ( < h-pp-tokens > )

Semantics

In the first form of the has-include-expression, the parenthesized header-name token is not subject to macro expansion. The second and third forms are considered only if the first form does not match, and the preprocessing tokens are processed just as in normal text.

A has-include-expression shall appear only in the controlling constant expression of a #if or #elif directive ([cpp.cond] 16.1). Prior to the evaluation of such an expression, the source file identified by the parenthesized preprocessing token sequence in each contained has-include-expression is searched for as if that preprocessing token sequence were the pp-tokens in a #include directive, except that no further macro expansion is performed. If such a directive would not satisfy the syntactic requirements of a #include directive, the program is ill-formed. The has-include-expression is replaced by the pp-number 1 if the search for the source file succeeds, and by the pp-number 0 if the search fails.

The #ifdef and #ifndef directives, and the defined conditional inclusion operator, shall treat __has_include as if it were the name of a defined macro. The identifier __has_include shall not appear in any context not mentioned in this section.

Example

This demonstrates a way to use a library optional facility only if it is available.

#ifdef __has_include
#  if __has_include(<optional>)
#    include <optional>
#    define have_optional 1
#  elif __has_include(<experimental/optional>)
#    include <experimental/optional>
#    define have_optional 1
#    define experimental_optional
#  else
#    define have_optional 0
#  endif
#endif

Testing for the presence of an attribute: __has_cpp_attribute

A C++ program cannot directly, reliably, and portably determine whether or not a standard or vendor-specific attribute is available for use. Testing for attribute support generally requires complex macro logic, as illustrated above for language features in general.

To solve this general problem, WG21 recommends that implementers provide, and programmers use, the __has_cpp_attribute feature.

Syntax

has-attribute-expression:
__has_cpp_attribute ( attribute-token )

Semantics

A has-attribute-expression shall appear only in the controlling constant expression of a #if or #elif directive ([cpp.cond] 16.1). The has-attribute-expression is replaced by a non-zero pp-number if the implementation supports an attribute with the specified name, and by the pp-number 0 otherwise.

For a standard attribute, the value of the __has_cpp_attribute macro is based on the year and month in which the attribute was voted into the working draft. In the case where the attribute is vendor-specific, the value is implementation-defined. However, in most cases it is expected that the availability of an attribute can be detected by any non-zero result.

The #ifdef and #ifndef directives, and the defined conditional inclusion operator, shall treat __has_cpp_attribute as if it were the name of a defined macro. The identifier __has_cpp_attribute shall not appear in any context not mentioned in this section.

Example

This demonstrates a way to use the attribute [[deprecated]] only if it is available.

#ifdef __has_cpp_attribute
#  if __has_cpp_attribute(deprecated)
#    define ATTR_DEPRECATED(msg) [[deprecated(msg)]]
#  else
#    define ATTR_DEPRECATED(msg)
#  endif
#endif

C++17 features

The following table itemizes all the changes that were made to the working draft for C++17 as specified in a WG21 technical document. (Changes that were made as specified in a core or library issue are not generally included.)

The table is sorted by the section of the standard primarily affected. The “Doc. No.” column links to the paper itself on the committee web site. The “Macro Name” column links to the relevant portion of the “Detailed explanation and rationale” section of this document. When the recommendation is to change the value of a macro previously recommended to be defined, the “Value” column links to the table entry for the previous recommendation.

For library features, the “Header“ column identifies the header that is expected to define the macro, although the macro may also be predefined. For language features, the macro must be predefined.

Significant changes to C++17
Doc. No. Title Primary Section Macro Name Value Header
N4086 Removing trigraphs??! 2.4 none
N4267 Adding u8 character literals 2.14 none
N4261 Proposed resolution for Core Issue 330: Qualification conversions and pointers to arrays of pointers 4.4, 5.2 none
P0012R1 Make exception specifications be part of the type system 4.12, 15.4 __cpp_noexcept_function_type 201510 predefined
N4295 Folding expressions 5.1, 14.5, 14.6 __cpp_fold_expressions 201411 predefined
P0002R1 Remove Deprecated operator++(bool) 5.3 none
N3928 Extending static_assert 7 __cpp_static_assert 201411 predefined
N3922 New Rules for auto deduction from braced-init-list 7.1 none
P0001R1 Remove Deprecated Use of the register Keyword 7.1 none
N4266 Attributes for namespaces and enumerators 7.2, 7.3 __cpp_namespace_attributes 201411 predefined
__cpp_enumerator_attributes 201411 predefined
N4230 Nested namespace definition 7.3 __cpp_nested_namespace_definitions 201411 predefined
P0136R1 Rewording inheriting constructors (core issue 1941 et al) 7.3 __cpp_inheriting_constructors 201511 predefined
P0134R0 Introducing a name for brace-or-equal-initializers for non-static data members 9.2 none
N4051 Allow typename in a template template parameter 14.1 none
N4268 Allow constant evaluation for all non-type template arguments 14.3 __cpp_nontype_template_args 201411 predefined
N4262 Wording for Forwarding References 14.8 none
N4285 Cleanup for exception-specification and throw-expression 15 none
P0061R1 __has_include for C++17 16.1 none
N4259 Wording for std::uncaught_exceptions 18.8 __cpp_lib_uncaught_exceptions 201411 <exception>
P0007R1 Constant View: A proposal for a std::as_const helper function template 20.2 __cpp_lib_as_const_function OR __cpp_lib_as_const 201510 <utility>
N4387 Improving pair and tuple 20.3, 20.4 ??? 201505 <utility> <tuple>
N4190 Removing auto_ptr, random_shuffle(), And Old <functional> Stuff 20.7-20.9 none
N4089 Safe conversions in unique_ptr<T[]> 20.8 none
N4366 LWG 2228: Missing SFINAE rule in unique_ptr templated assignment 20.8 none
P0074R0 Making std::owner_less more flexible 20.8 __cpp_lib_owner_less_void ??? 201510 <memory>
N4169 A proposal to add invoke function template 20.9 __cpp_lib_invoke 201411 <functional>
N4277 TriviallyCopyable reference_wrapper 20.9 none
N3911 TransformationTrait Alias void_t 20.10 __cpp_lib_void_t 201411 <type_traits>
N4389 Wording for bool_constant 20.10 __cpp_lib_bool_constant 201505 <type_traits>
P0006R0 Adopt Type Traits Variable Templates from Library Fundamentals TS for C++17 20.10 __cpp_lib_type_trait_variable_templates 201510 <type_traits> <system_error> <tuple> <memory> <functional> <ratio> <chrono>
P0013R1 Logical Operator Type Traits 20.10 __cpp_lib_logical_traits 201510 <type_traits>
P0092R1 Polishing <chrono> 20.12 __cpp_lib_chrono ??? 201510 <chrono>
N4258 Cleaning-up noexcept in the Library 21.4, 23.3-23.5 __cpp_lib_allocator_is_always_equal OR __cpp_lib_allocator_traits_is_always_equal 201411 <memory> <scoped_allocator> <string> <deque> <forward_list> <list> <vector> <map> <set> <unordered_map> <unordered_set>
N4284 Contiguous Iterators 23.2, 24.2 none
N4510 Minimal incomplete type support for standard containers 23.3 ???
N4279 Improved insertion interface for unique-key maps 23.4 __cpp_lib_map_insertion OR __cpp_lib_map_try_emplace 201411 <map>
23.5 __cpp_lib_unordered_map_insertion OR __cpp_lib_unordered_map_try_emplace 201411 <unordered_map>
N4280 Non-member size() and more 24.3 __cpp_lib_nonmember_container_access 201411 <iterator> <array> <deque> <forward_list> <list> <map> <regex> <set> <string> <unordered_map> <unordered_set> <vector>
N4508 A proposal to add shared_mutex (untimed) 30.4 ??? 201505 <shared_mutex>
P0156R0 Variadic lock_guard 30.4 __cpp_lib_variadic_lock_guard OR __cpp_lib_lock_guard_variadic 201510 <thread>
P0004R1 Remove Deprecated iostreams aliases D none

C++14 features

The following table itemizes all the changes that were made to the working draft for C++14 as specified in a WG21 technical document. (Changes that were made as specified in a core or library issue are not generally included.)

The table is sorted by the section of the standard primarily affected. The “Doc. No.” column links to the paper itself on the committee web site. The “Macro Name” column links to the relevant portion of the “Detailed explanation and rationale” section of this document. When the recommendation is to change the value of a macro previously recommended to be defined, the “Value” column links to the table entry for the previous recommendation.

For library features, the “Header“ column identifies the header that is expected to define the macro, although the macro may also be predefined. For language features, the macro must be predefined.

Significant changes to C++14
Doc. No. Title Primary Section Macro Name Value Header
N3910 What can signal handlers do? (CWG 1441) 1.9-1.10 none
N3927 Definition of Lock-Free 1.10 none
N3472 Binary Literals in the C++ Core Language 2.14 __cpp_binary_literals 201304 predefined
N3781 Single-Quotation-Mark as a Digit Separator 2.14 __cpp_digit_separators 201309 predefined
none
N3323 A Proposal to Tweak Certain C++ Contextual Conversions 4 none
N3648 Wording Changes for Generalized Lambda-capture 5.1 __cpp_init_captures 201304 predefined
N3649 Generic (Polymorphic) Lambda Expressions 5.1 __cpp_generic_lambdas 201304 predefined
N3664 Clarifying Memory Allocation 5.3 none
N3778 C++ Sized Deallocation 5.3, 18.6 __cpp_sized_deallocation 201309 predefined
N3624 Core Issue 1512: Pointer comparison vs qualification conversions 5.9, 5.10 none
N3652 Relaxing constraints on constexpr functions / constexpr member functions and implicit const 5.19, 7.1 __cpp_constexpr 201304 predefined
N3638 Return type deduction for normal functions 7.1 __cpp_decltype_auto 201304 predefined
__cpp_return_type_deduction 201304 predefined
N3760 [[deprecated]] attribute 7.6 __has_cpp_attribute(deprecated) 201309 predefined
N3653 Member initializers and aggregates 8.5 __cpp_aggregate_nsdmi 201304 predefined
N3667 Drafting for Core 1402 12.8 none
N3651 Variable Templates 14, 14.7 __cpp_variable_templates 201304 predefined
N3669 Fixing constexpr member functions without const various none
N3673 C++ Library Working Group Ready Issues Bristol 2013 various none
N3658 Compile-time integer sequences 20 __cpp_lib_integer_sequence 201304 <utility>
N3668 exchange() utility function 20 __cpp_lib_exchange_function 201304 <utility>
N3471 Constexpr Library Additions: utilities 20.2-20.4 none
N3670 Wording for Addressing Tuples by Type 20.2-20.4 __cpp_lib_tuples_by_type 201304 <utility>
N3887 Consistent Metafunction Aliases 20.3-20.4 __cpp_lib_tuple_element_t 201402 <utility>
N3656 make_unique 20.7 __cpp_lib_make_unique 201304 <memory>
N3421 Making Operator Functors greater<> 20.8 __cpp_lib_transparent_operators 201210 <functional>
N3545 An Incremental Improvement to integral_constant 20.9 __cpp_lib_integral_constant_callable 201304 <type_traits>
N3655 TransformationTraits Redux 20.9 __cpp_lib_transformation_trait_aliases 201304 <type_traits>
N3789 Constexpr Library Additions: functional 20.10 none
N3462 std::result_of and SFINAE 20.9
20.10
__cpp_lib_result_of_sfinae 201210 <functional>
<type_traits>
LWG 2112 User-defined classes that cannot be derived from 20.10 __cpp_lib_is_final 201402 <type_traits>
LWG 2247 Type traits and std::nullptr_t 20.10 __cpp_lib_is_null_pointer 201309 <type_traits>
N3469 Constexpr Library Additions: chrono 20.11 none
N3642 User-defined Literals for Standard Library Types 20.11 __cpp_lib_chrono_udls 201304 <chrono>
21.7 __cpp_lib_string_udls 201304 <string>
N3470 Constexpr Library Additions: containers 23.3 none
N3657 Adding heterogeneous comparison lookup to associative containers 23.4 __cpp_lib_generic_associative_lookup 201304 <map>
<set>
N3644 Null Forward Iterators 24.2 __cpp_lib_null_iterators 201304 <iterator>
LWG 2285 make_reverse_iterator 24.5 __cpp_lib_make_reverse_iterator 201402 <iterator>
N3671 Making non-modifying sequence operations more robust 25.2 __cpp_lib_robust_nonmodifying_seq_ops 201304 <algorithm>
N3779 User-defined Literals for std::complex 26.4 __cpp_lib_complex_udls 201309 <complex>
N3924 Discouraging rand() in C++14 26.8 none
N3654 Quoted Strings Library Proposal 27.7 __cpp_lib_quoted_string_io 201304 <iomanip>
LWG 2249 Remove gets from <cstdio> 27.9 none
N3786 Prohibiting "out of thin air" results in C++14 29.3 none
N3659 Shared locking in C++ 30.4 __has_include(<shared_mutex>) 1 predefined
N3891 A proposal to rename shared_mutex to shared_timed_mutex 30.4 __cpp_lib_shared_timed_mutex 201402 <shared_mutex>
N3776 Wording for ~future 30.6 none

C++11 features

Significant features of C++11
Doc. No. Title Primary Section Macro name Value Header
N2249 New Character Types in C++ 2.13 __cpp_unicode_characters 200704 predefined
N2442 Raw and Unicode String Literals Unified Proposal 2.13 __cpp_raw_strings 200710 predefined
__cpp_unicode_literals 200710 predefined
N2765 User-defined Literals 2.13, 13.5 __cpp_user_defined_literals 200809 predefined
N2927 New wording for C++0x lambdas 5.1 __cpp_lambdas 200907 predefined
N2235 Generalized Constant Expressions 5.19, 7.1 __cpp_constexpr 200704 predefined
N2930 Range-Based For Loop Wording (Without Concepts) 6.5 __cpp_range_based_for 200907 predefined
N1720 Proposal to Add Static Assertions to the Core Language 7 __cpp_static_assert 200410 predefined
N2343 Decltype 7.1 __cpp_decltype 200707 predefined
N2761 Towards support for attributes in C++ 7.6 __cpp_attributes 200809 predefined
__has_cpp_attribute(noreturn) 200809 predefined
__has_cpp_attribute(carries_dependency) 200809 predefined
N2118 A Proposal to Add an Rvalue Reference to the C++ Language 8.3 __cpp_rvalue_references 200610 predefined
N2242 Proposed Wording for Variadic Templates 8.3, 14 __cpp_variadic_templates 200704 predefined
N2672 Initializer List proposed wording 8.5 __cpp_initializer_lists 200806 predefined
N1986 Delegating Constructors 12.6 __cpp_delegating_constructors 200604 predefined
N2756 Non-static data member initializers 12.6 __cpp_nsdmi 200809 predefined
N2540 Inheriting Constructors 12.9 __cpp_inheriting_constructors 200802 predefined
N2439 Extending move semantics to *this 13.3 __cpp_ref_qualifiers 200710 predefined
N2258 Template Aliases 14.5 __cpp_alias_templates 200704 predefined

Conditionally-supported constructs

STUB

C++98 features

STUB: especially for exception handling and RTTI

Feature Primary section Macro name Value Header
Run-time type identification 5.2 __cpp_rtti 199711 predefined
Exception handling 15 __cpp_exceptions 199711 predefined

Features published and later removed

Features removed from C++14

Features in the first CD of C++14, subsequently removed to a Technical Specification
Doc. No. Title Primary Section Macro Name Value Header
N3639 Runtime-sized arrays with automatic storage duration 8.3 __cpp_runtime_arrays      201304 predefined
N3672 A proposal to add a utility class to represent optional objects 20.5 __has_include(<optional>) 1 predefined
N3662 C++ Dynamic Arrays 23.2, 23.3 __has_include(<dynarray>) 1 predefined

The intention is that an implementation which provides runtime-sized arrays as specified in the first CD should define __cpp_runtime_arrays as 201304. The expectation is that a later document specifying runtime-sized arrays will specify a different value for __cpp_runtime_arrays.

Recommendations from Technical Specifications

In this section, feature-test macros from all WG21 Technical Specifications are collected, for convenience.

C++ Extensions for Library Fundamentals

The recommended macro name is "__cpp_lib_experimental_" followed by the string in the "Macro Name Suffix" column.

Doc. No. Title Primary Section Macro Name Suffix Value Header
N3915 apply() call a function with arguments from a tuple 3.2.2 apply 201402 <experimental/tuple>
N3932 Variable Templates For Type Traits 3.3.1 type_trait_variable_templates 201402 <experimental/type_traits>
N3866 Invocation type traits 3.3.2 invocation_type 201406 <experimental/type_traits>
N3916 Type-erased allocator for std::function 4.2 function_erased_allocator 201406 <experimental/functional>
N3905 Extending std::search to use Additional Searching Algorithms 4.3 boyer_moore_searching 201411 <experimental/functional>
N3672, N3793 A utility class to represent optional objects 5 optional 201411 <experimental/optional>
N3804 Any Library Proposal 6 any 201411 <experimental/any>
N3921 string_view: a non-owning reference to a string 7 string_view 201411 <experimental/string_view>
N3920 Extending shared_ptr to Support Arrays 8.2 shared_ptr_arrays 201406 <experimental/memory>
N3916 Polymorphic Memory Resources 8.4 memory_resources 201402 <experimental/memory_resource>
N3916 Type-erased allocator for std::promise 9.2 promise_erased_allocator 201406 <experimental/future>
N3916 Type-erased allocator for std::packaged_task 9.3 packaged_task_erased_allocator 201406 <experimental/future>
N3925 A sample Proposal 10.3 sample 201402 <experimental/algorithm>

C++ Extensions for Parallelism

Name Value Header
__cpp_lib_experimental_parallel_algorithm 201505 <experimental/algorithm> <experimental/exception_list> <experimental/execution_policy> <experimental/numeric>

File System Technical Specification

Name Value Header
__cpp_lib_experimental_filesystem 201406 <experimental/filesystem>

C++ Extensions for Transactional Memory

Name Value Header
__cpp_transactional_memory 201505 predeclared

Detailed explanation and rationale

C++14 features

Many of the examples here have been shamelessly and almost brainlessly plagiarized from the cited paper. Assistance with improving examples is solicited.

N3323: A Proposal to Tweak Certain C++ Contextual Conversions

This paper specifies a small change that is considered to be more of a bug fix than a new feature, so no macro is considered necessary.

N3421: Making Operator Functors greater<>

Example:

#if __cpp_lib_transparent_operators
	sort(v.begin(), v.end(), greater<>());
#else
	sort(v.begin(), v.end(), greater<valueType>());
#endif

N3462: std::result_of and SFINAE

The macro __cpp_lib_result_of_sfinae was originally erroneously recommended to be defined in the unrelated header <functional>. This error is being corrected, because it is believed that no implementation actually followed the erroneous recommendation.

Example:

template<typename A>
#if __cpp_lib_result_of_sfinae
  typename std::result_of<inc(A)>::type
#else
  decltype(std::declval<inc>()(std::declval<A>()))
#endif
try_inc(A a);

N3469: Constexpr Library Additions: chrono
N3470: Constexpr Library Additions: containers
N3471: Constexpr Library Additions: utilities

These papers just add constexpr to the declarations of several dozen library functions in various headers. It is not clear that a macro to test for the presence of these changes would be sufficiently useful to be worthwhile.

N3472: Binary Literals in the C++ Core Language

Example:

int const packed_zero_to_three =
#if __cpp_binary_literals
	0b00011011;
#else
	0x1B;
#endif

N3545: An Incremental Improvement to integral_constant

Example:

constexpr bool arithmetic =
#if __cpp_lib_integral_constant_callable
	std::is_arithmetic<T>{}();
#else
	static_cast<bool>(std::is_arithmetic<T>{});
#endif

N3624: Core Issue 1512: Pointer comparison vs qualification conversions

This paper contained the wording changes to resolve a core issue. It did not introduce a new feature, so no macro is considered necessary.

N3638: Return type deduction for normal functions

This paper describes two separate features: the ability to deduce the return type of a function from the return statements contained in its body, and the ability to use decltype(auto). These features can be implemented independently, so a macro is recommended for each.

Examples:

template<typename T>
auto abs(T x)
#ifndef __cpp_return_type_deduction
	-> decltype(x < 0 ? -x : x)
#endif
{
	return x < 0 ? -x : x;
}

N3639: Runtime-sized arrays with automatic storage duration

This was removed from C++14 to TS 19569.

Example:

#if __cpp_runtime_arrays
	T local_buffer[n];	// more efficient than vector
#else
	std::vector<T> local_buffer(n);
#endif

N3642: User-defined Literals for Standard Library Types

This paper specifies user-defined literal operators for two different standard library types, which could be implemented independently. Furthermore, user-defined literal operators are expected to be added later for at least one other library type. So for consistency and flexibility, each type is given its own macro.

Examples:

N3644: Null Forward Iterators

Example:

N3648: Wording Changes for Generalized Lambda-capture

Example:

N3649: Generic (Polymorphic) Lambda Expressions

Example:

N3651: Variable Templates

Example:

N3652: Relaxing constraints on constexpr functions / constexpr member functions and implicit const

The major change proposed by this paper is considered to be strictly a further development of the constexpr feature of C++11. Consequently, the recommendation here is to give an increased value to the macro indicating C++11 support for constexpr.

Example:

N3653: Member initializers and aggregates

Example:

N3654: Quoted Strings Library Proposal

Example:

N3655: TransformationTraits Redux

Example:

N3656: make_unique

Example:

N3657: Adding heterogeneous comparison lookup to associative containers

Example:

N3658: Compile-time integer sequences

Example:

N3659: Shared locking in C++

The original recommendation, of a macro defined in header <mutex>, was not useful, and has been retracted.

For new headers, we have a long-term solution that uses __has_include. There was not sufficient support and a number of objections against adding macros to existing library header files, as there was not consensus on a place to put them.

There is also a simple workaround for users that are not using libraries that define the header file: supplying their own header that is further down the search path than the library headers.

Example:

#if __has_include(<shared_mutex>)
#include <shared_mutex>

// code that uses std::shared_mutex
#endif

N3662: C++ Dynamic Arrays

This was removed from C++14 to TS 19569.

Example:

N3664: Clarifying Memory Allocation

The substantive change in this paper just relaxes a restriction on implementations. There is no new feature for a programmer to use, so no macro is considered necessary.

N3667: Drafting for Core 1402

This paper contained the wording changes to resolve a core issue. It did not introduce a new feature, so no macro is considered necessary.

N3668: exchange() utility function

Example:

N3669: Fixing constexpr member functions without const

This paper contained the wording changes to ensure that a minor change proposed by N3652 did not impact the standard library. It did not introduce a new feature, so no macro is considered necessary.

N3670: Wording for Addressing Tuples by Type

Example:

N3671: Making non-modifying sequence operations more robust

Example:

N3672: A proposal to add a utility class to represent optional objects

This was removed from C++14 to TS 19568.

See N3659 for rationale.

Example:

#if __has_include(<optional>)
#include <optional>

// code that uses std::optional
#endif

N3673: C++ Library Working Group Ready Issues Bristol 2013

This paper was just a collection of library issues. It did not introduce a new feature, so no macro is considered necessary.

N3760: [[deprecated]] attribute

Differentiating attribute availability based on compiler-specific macros is error- prone. Since vendors are allowed to provide implementation-specific attributes in addition to standards-based attributes, this feature provides a uniform, future-proof way to test the availability of attributes.

Example:

#ifdef __has_cpp_attribute
#  if __has_cpp_attribute(deprecated)
#    define ATTR_DEPRECATED(msg) [[deprecated(msg)]]
#  else
#    define ATTR_DEPRECATED(msg)
#  endif
#endif

ATTR_DEPRECATED("f() has been deprecated") void f();

N3776: Wording for ~future

The change made by this paper is a bug fix, and no macro is considered necessary.

N3778: C++ Sized Deallocation

Example:

N3779: User-defined Literals for std::complex

Example:

N3781: Single-Quotation-Mark as a Digit Separator

Writing code that uses digit separators conditionally when they are available would require:

Thus it is believed that a macro indicating support for digit separators in the language would not be sufficiently useful.

N3786: Prohibiting "out of thin air" results in C++14

The change made by this paper is a bug fix, and no macro is considered necessary.

N3789: Constexpr Library Additions: functional

See N3471 for rationale.

N3887: Consistent Metafunction Aliases

Example:

N3891: A proposal to rename shared_mutex to shared_timed_mutex

Example:

N3910: What can signal handlers do? (CWG 1441)

The change made by this paper is a bug fix, and no macro is considered necessary.

N3924: Discouraging rand() in C++14

The change made by this paper is not normative; no macro is necessary.

N3927: Definition of Lock-Free

The change made by this paper is a bug fix, and no macro is considered necessary.

LWG issue 2112: User-defined classes that cannot be derived from

Libraries that want to do empty-base optimization could reasonably want to use !is_final && is_empty if is_final exists, and fall back to just using is_empty otherwise.

Example:

template<typename T>
struct use_empty_base_opt :
	std::integral_constant<bool, 
		std::is_empty<T>::value
#if __cpp_lib_has_is_final
		&& !std::is_final<T>::value
#endif
	>
{ };

LWG issue 2247: Type traits and std::nullptr_t

Example:

LWG issue 2249: Remove gets from <cstdio>

Since portable, well-written code does not use the gets function at all, there is no need for a macro to indicate whether it is available.

LWG issue 2285: make_reverse_iterator

Example:

C++17 features

N3911: TransformationTrait Alias void_t

Example:

#if __cpp_lib_void_t
  using std::void_t;
#else
  template< class... >  using void_t = void;
#endif

N3922: New Rules for auto deduction from braced-init-list

This change is considered a fix to a problem in C++14, not a new feature, so no macro is recommended. Code that needs to work both with and without this change should not attempt to deduce a type from a direct braced-init-list initializer.

N3928: Extending static_assert

Example:

#if __cpp_static_assert
#if __cpp_static_assert > 201400
#define Static_Assert(cond) static_assert(cond)
#else
#define Static_Assert(cond) static_assert(cond, #cond)
#endif
#define Static_Assert_Msg(cond, msg) static_assert(cond, msg)
#else
#define Static_Assert(cond)
#define Static_Assert_Msg(cond, msg)
#endif

N4051: Allow typename in a template template parameter

This is a minor stylistic extension; there is no difference in functionality or verbosity between code that uses the class keyword and code that uses the typename keyword in this context. If portability is needed between implementations having and lacking this feature, generally it would be easier to continue to write code using class than to write and maintain conditional compilation to use typename when available. So a macro for this feature would not seem to be justified.

N4086: Removing trigraphs??!

This is a very low-level change, purely lexical. Writing code to use trigraphs when they are available and different characters when trigraphs are not available would be tedious, and the resulting code would be even uglier than code that just uses trigraphs.

Even in circumstances where use of a character not in the ISO/IEC 646 Basic Character Set is problematic, it would generally be easier to use alternative tokens (a.k.a. “digraphs”) than to conditionally use trigraphs.

N4089: Safe conversions in unique_ptr<T[]>

This considered a fix for a library issue, to remove an unnecessary restriction; no macro is considered necessary.

N4169: A proposal to add invoke function template

Example:

template<typename F>
auto deref_fn(F&& f) 
{ 
  return [f](auto&&... args) {
#if __cpp_lib_invoke
    return *std::invoke(f, std::forward<decltype(args)>(args)...);
#else
    return *f(std::forward<decltype(args)>(args)...);
#endif
  };
}

In this example, member function pointers are supported only if invoke is available.

N4190: Removing auto_ptr, random_shuffle(), And Old <functional> Stuff

These library features are removed because superior alternatives to them were introduced in C++11. Because these alternatives are superior, there is little motivation to maintain code that uses one of these obsolescent features when it is available.

N4230: Nested namespace definition

This feature doesn't provide any new functionality; it's just makes it somewhat easier to write code. For code that needs to be portable to an implementation that doesn't provide this feature, it would be easier just to avoid using the feature than it would be maintain the code to use it when available but not otherwise. Therefore, a macro to indicate the availability of this feature would not seem to be justified.

N4258: Cleaning-up noexcept in the Library

Example:

template <class T, class Allocator = std::allocator<T>>
class myContainer {
    typedef std::allocator_traits<Allocator> alloc_traits;
public:
    ...
    myContainer& operator=(myContainer&& x)
#ifdef __cpp_lib_allocator_is_always_equal
      noexcept(alloc_traits::propagate_on_container_move_assignment::value ||
               alloc_traits::is_always_equal::value);
#else
      noexcept(alloc_traits::propagate_on_container_move_assignment::value);
#endif
    ...
};

Without the trait, the code will be correct, but container move-assignment would have fewer exception guarantees, especially with pre-C++11 stateless allocators. An implementation of a mutating algorithm might choose to use copy-assignment instead of move-assignment if the noexcept clause evaluates to false, because the implementation is unable to determine whether the allocator always compares equal.

N4259: Wording for std::uncaught_exceptions

Example:

bool throw_may_terminate()
{
#if __cpp_lib_uncaught_exceptions
    return std::uncaught_exceptions() > 0;
#else
    return std::uncaught_exception();
#endif
}

N4261: Proposed resolution for Core Issue 330: Qualification conversions and pointers to arrays of pointers

This paper fixes a core language issue; no new feature is introduced.

N4262: Wording for Forwarding References

The changes detailed in this paper are solely editorial. It does not introduce any new feature.

N4266: Attributes for namespaces and enumerators

Example:

enum {
old_val
#if __cpp_enumerator_attributes
	[[deprecated]]
#endif
, new_val };

N4267: Adding u8 character literals

This feature gives guaranteed access to the Unicode encoding for a 7-bit ASCII character even in an implementation that uses a different character encoding. In an application that needs this functionality, it would probably be easier simply to hard-code the numeric values of the needed encodings. Thus a macro for this feature would seem to be of limited usefulness.

N4268: Allow constant evaluation for all non-type template arguments

Example:

int n = 0, m = 0;
int &r = n;
template<int &> struct X {};
#if __cpp_nontype_template_args
  X<r> x;
#else
  std::conditional<&r == &n, X<n>, X<m>>::type x;
#endif

N4277: TriviallyCopyable reference_wrapper

This paper imposes a new requirement on implementations, which most implementations had already satisfied. A reliable indication of when this requirement was not satisfied would have been useful for programming; an indication that it is satisfied would not be so useful.

N4279: Improved insertion interface for unique-key maps

Example:

#if __cpp_lib_try_emplace
    m.insert_or_assign("foo", std::move(p));
#else
    m["foo"] = std::move(p);
#endif

In this example, if insert_or_assign is not available, the type of p must be default-constructible.

N4280: Non-member size() and more

Example:

auto n =
#if __cpp_lib_nonmember_container_access
    std::size(c);
#else
    c.size();
#endif

In this example, an array type is supported for c only if the nonmember size function is available.

N4284: Contiguous Iterators

The changes detailed in this paper are solely editorial. It does not introduce any new feature.

N4285: Cleanup for exception-specification and throw-expression

The changes detailed in this paper are solely editorial. It does not introduce any new feature.

N4295: Folding expressions

Example:

#if __cpp_fold_expressions
template<typename... T>
  auto sum(T... args)  { return (args + ...); }
#else
auto sum() { return 0; }
template<typename T>
  auto sum(T t) { return t; }
template(typename T, typename... Ts)
  auto sum(T t, Ts... ts) { return t + sum(ts...); }
#endif

N4366: LWG 2228 missing SFINAE rule

This change fixes a defect in the library. No new feature is added, so no feature-test macro is needed.

N4387: Improving pair and tuple

Lenexa

N4389: Wording for bool_constant

Example:

#if __cpp_lib_bool_constant
  template <bool B>
  using my_bool_constant = std::bool_constant<B>;
#else
  template <bool B>
  using my_bool_constant = std::integral_constant<bool, B>;
#endif

N4508: A proposal to add shared_mutex (untimed)

Example:

Lenexa

N4510: Minimal incomplete type support for standard containers

Lenexa

P0001R1: Remove Deprecated Use of the register Keyword

The simplest way to write code to be portable between implementations that have and lack this change is to avoid using the register keyword. A feature-test macro would not be sufficiently useful.

P0002R1: Remove Deprecated operator++(bool)

The simplest way to write code to be portable between implementations that have and lack this change is to avoid applying ++ to bool objects. A feature-test macro would not be sufficiently useful.

P0004R1: Remove Deprecated iostreams aliases

The simplest way to write code to be portable between implementations that have and lack this change is not to use the previously deprecated features. A feature-test macro would not be sufficiently useful.

P0006R0: Adopt Type Traits Variable Templates from Library Fundamentals TS for C++17

Most of these variable templates appear in <type_traits>, but some more are sprinkled through several other headers. There is a feature-test macro for it already, but its spelling suggests that it's specific to <type_traits>. Should that one macro be defined in every relevant header?

Example:

Kona

Example:

P0007R1: Constant View: A proposal for a std::as_const helper function template

Example:

Kona

P0012R1: Make exception specifications be part of the type system

Example:

Kona

P0013R1: Logical Operator Type Traits

Example:

Kona

P0061R1: __has_include for C++17

Because it operates like a macro, and can be tested for as such, __has_include can operate as its own feature-test macro; no other macro is needed.

P0074R0: Making std::owner_less more flexible

Kona

P0092R1: Polishing <chrono>

Kona

P0134R0: Introducing a name for brace-or-equal-initializers for non-static data members

This change is entirely editorial; no feature is added, and no test macro is needed.

P0136R1: Rewording inheriting constructors (core issue 1941 et al)

This change is considered a minor tweak to the inheriting constructors feature, and mostly just fixes issues with the original description. However, it can change the behavior of some code. Therefore the value of the __cpp_inheriting_constructors macro is adjusted.

Example:

Kona

P0156R1: Variadic lock_guard

Example:

Kona

Annex: Model wording for a Technical Specification

It is recommended that Technical Specifications include the wording below. yyyymm indicates the year and month of the date of the TS.

1.x Feature testing [intro.features]

An implementation that provides support for this Technical Specification shall define the feature test macro(s) in Table X.

Table X — Feature Test Macro(s)
Name Value Header
__cpp_name yyyymm predefinedOR<name>

Revision history

Date Document Description
2015-11-13 Added C++17 features from Kona
2015-09-16 P0096R0 Added C++17 features from Lenexa
A few adjustments to C++17 recommendations
Added model wording for a Technical Specification
Added summaries of recommendations from TS'es
2015-04-09 N4440 Added C++17 features from Urbana
A couple of changes to C++14 recommendations
A few new C++11 features
2014-12-29 SD-6 Updated from N4200
2014-10-08 N4200 Updated for final C++14
Added more support for C++11 and C++98
2014-05-22 N4030 Updated for changes from Chicago and Issaquah meetings
Added __has_cpp_attribute test
2013-11-27 SD-6 Initial publication
No substantive changes from N3745
2013-08-28 N3745 Endorsed by WG21 membership
2013-06-27 N3694 Initial draft