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Return to C++: CPP Standards, C++98, C++03, C++11, C++14, C++17, C++20 and C++23, CPP History

C++11, often referred to as C++0x during its development, was a major update to the C++ language standard, finalized in 2011. It introduced several features aimed at making the language more convenient to use, more powerful, and more efficient. Below is a summary of C++11's key features in MediaWiki format.

C++11 introduced the `auto` keyword, allowing the compiler to automatically deduce the type of a variable from its initializer, simplifying code and reducing the need for verbose type declarations.

The range-based `for` loop was added to simplify iterating over containers. It allows iterating directly over the elements of a container without needing to manually manage iterators.

Lambda expressions provide a concise way to write inline anonymous functions. This feature is particularly useful for short snippets of code passed as arguments to algorithms or used for event handling.

Rvalue references and move semantics significantly improve the performance of C++ applications by eliminating unnecessary copying of objects, especially when returning objects from functions or moving them around.

Uniform initialization introduces a consistent syntax for initializing any object, using curly braces. It eliminates ambiguity in the old C++ initialization syntax and provides a way to initialize containers with a list of values.

The `nullptr` keyword was introduced as a distinct type-safe pointer literal, replacing the use of the literal `0` or the macro `NULL` for null pointers, resolving ambiguities and enhancing type safety.

Strongly typed enumerations, declared with `enum class`, improve type safety by preventing implicit conversions to and from integer types, and allow the same enumerator names to be used in different enumerations.

`constexpr` specifies that the value of a variable or function can be evaluated at compile time, which can improve performance by eliminating the need for runtime calculation of constant expressions.

Delegating constructors allow a constructor to call another constructor in the same class, reducing code duplication by centralizing initialization logic in a single constructor.

The `override` and `final` specifiers for virtual functions provide better control over virtual function overrides in derived classes, improving code clarity and safety.

C++11 introduced a standardized memory model and support for multithreading and concurrency, including threads, mutexes, condition variables, and futures, facilitating the development of parallel and concurrent applications.

User-defined literals allow for the definition of custom literal operators, enabling literals for user-defined types that behave similarly to built-in type literals.

Smart pointers, `std::shared_ptr` and `std::unique_ptr`, provide automatic memory management to prevent memory leaks, replacing manual memory management with new and delete.

Thread-local storage, using the `thread_local` keyword, allows variables to be created separately for each thread, useful in multithreading where each thread needs its own copy of a variable.

Attributes provide a standardized way to specify additional information to the compiler about various program elements, improving the ability to control compiler optimizations and behavior.

The C++11 standard library was significantly extended, including new containers like `std::array` and `std::unordered_map`, functions like `std::to_string`, and algorithms like `std::sort`.

The `forward_list` and `unordered` containers introduced forward declarations, enabling more efficient container manipulation in certain scenarios.

Type traits and static assertions enhance compile-time programming capabilities, allowing for introspection of type properties and compile-time checks.

The `long long` integer type was standardized, providing a guaranteed 64-bit integer on all platforms, addressing the need for a portable wide integer type.

C++11 relaxed the syntax for template declarations, allowing consecutive right angle brackets, which simplifies the syntax for nested templates.

For detailed information on C++11 features and technical specifications, the official ISO C++ website (s://isocpp.org/(https://isocpp.org/)) and the GitHub repository for the C++ Standards Committee's documents are invaluable resources. Unfortunately, direct links to a specific GitHub repository for C++11 documentation cannot be provided here, but official documentation and proposals can be found through the ISO C++ website and associated channels.

This summary provides an overview of the major improvements and features introduced in C++11, demonstrating the standard's commitment to evolving in response to modern programming needs while maintaining backward compatibility and performance.