The C++ programming language, initially developed by Bjarne Stroustrup in 1983, quickly became one of the most popular programming languages due to its efficiency, flexibility, and support for object-oriented programming. However, as the language evolved, variations and extensions introduced by different compiler vendors led to compatibility issues. To address this, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) formed a committee to standardize C++. One of the key milestones in this effort was the release of the C++03 standard.
In this article, we will explore the different features adopted in C++03 along with some clarifications and improvements made over its predecessor, C++98. We will also look at the compilers that provide full support for this standard.
What is C++03?
C++03, officially known as ISO/IEC 14882:2003, is the second standardized version of the C++ programming language, published in 2003. It is primarily a bug fix release for C++98 (ISO/IEC 14882:1998), addressing ambiguities and defects in the original standard without introducing major new features. The goal of C++03 was to improve clarity, maintain stability, and ensure compatibility across different compilers.
Added Features and Improvements in the C++03 Standard
The C++03 Standard adopted several key features and improvements over C++98. Important changes include:
1. Library Bug Fixes and Improvements
Numerous corrections and clarifications were made to the Standard Library, enhancing its reliability and usability. Improved specifications for the Standard Template Library (STL) components, including containers, iterators, and algorithms.
2. Explicit Template Instantiation
The syntax for explicit template instantiation was clarified, providing a more precise and consistent way to instantiate templates.
template class MyClass<int>; // Explicit instantiation
3. Value Initialization
The rules for value initialization were refined, providing more predictable behavior when initializing objects.
int* p = new int(); // Initializes to zero
4. Koenig Lookup (Argument-Dependent Lookup)
The rules for argument-dependent name lookup, also known as Koenig Lookup, were clarified to resolve ambiguities in function overloading.
namespace NS {
struct A {};
void f(A);
}
NS::A a;
f(a); // Calls NS::f due to Koenig Lookup5. Enhancements to Member Templates
Member templates, particularly in standard library classes like std::vector and std::deque, were refined for better usability and consistency.
6. Improvements to Exception Handling
The behaviour of exception handling, especially with regard to memory management during stack unwinding, was clarified to ensure consistent implementation across different compilers.
Deprecated Features in the C++03 Standard
C++03 did not introduce any significant deprecations but rather focused on refining and clarifying existing features to improve the language's overall stability and usability.
Compiler Support for C++03
Many compilers added support for C++03 to ensure compliance with the new standard. Some of the notable compilers that supported C++03 include:
1. GCC (GNU Compiler Collection)
GCC was one of the first compilers to adopt the C++03 standard and continues to support it robustly.
All the versions above GCC 3.4 (released in April 2004) support C++ 03.
2. Microsoft C/C++ Compiler
Microsoft Visual C++ (MSVC) added support for C++03, ensuring compatibility with the standard in its early versions and continuing to support it alongside later standards.
First version with C++03 support was Microsoft Visual C++ 2003 (also known as Visual Studio .NET 2003)
3. Clang
The Clang compiler, part of the LLVM project, supports C++03, ensuring modern development environments can compile legacy C++ code.
First version with C++03 support Clang 1.0 (released in September 2009). All the versions above it supports C++03
4. Intel C++ Compiler
Intel's C++ compiler provided support for C++03, known for its high performance and optimizations.
First version with C++03 support was Intel C++ Compiler 8.0 (released in December 2003)
5. Borland C++ Compiler
Borland's C++ compiler (now Embarcadero C++Builder) supported C++03, popular among developers for its RAD capabilities.
First version with C++03 support: Borland C++Builder 6 (released in February 2002).
Conclusion
The introduction of C++03 was a critical development in the evolution of the C++ programming language. By refining and clarifying the language and ensuring wide compiler support, C++03 established a more stable and reliable foundation for C++ development. Although it did not introduce major new features, its influence persists today as it laid the groundwork for future standards and improved programming practices. C++03 remains an essential milestone in the history of C++, reflecting the ongoing commitment to enhancing and standardizing the language.
Similar Reads
C++ 23 Standard
C++23, officially known as ISO/IEC 14882:2023, is the latest standardized version of the C++ programming language, published in 2023. As C++ introduces new improvements and features every 3 years in the form of a standard like C++20 introduced powerful features such as concepts, ranges, and coroutin
6 min read
C++ 98 Standard
C++ 98, officially known as ISO/IEC 14882:1998, was the first international standard for the C++ programming language, published in 1998. This version standardized features that were already widely used in the C++ community and also introduced some new features that laid the foundation for future ad
4 min read
C 17 Standard
C 17 standard, officially known as ISO/IEC 9899:2018, is the most recent revision of the C programming language standard, it was finalized in 2017 and published in June 2018. It is often referred to as C 18 due to its publication year, this standard is a direct successor to C11 (ISO/IEC 9899:2011) a
3 min read
C++ 11 Standard
C++ 11, officially known as ISO/IEC 14882:2011, is a significant version of the C++ programming language standard, published in 2011. It marked a major fix up of the language, introducing various features and enhancements that improved the usability, performance, and safety of C++ code. Before C++ 1
5 min read
ANSI C - C89 Standard
The C programming language, developed in the early 1970s by Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs, quickly gained popularity due to its efficiency, portability, and flexibility. However, C variations and extensions by different compiler vendors led to compatibility issues. To address this, the American Nation
5 min read
C++ Standards and Implementations
C++ programming language is widely used and known for its power, versatility, and performance. C++ is an extension of the C programming language created by Danish computer scientist Bjarne Stroustrup. With time several C++ standards have been introduced with new features and enhancements. In this ar
6 min read
Const keyword in C++
In this article, the various functions of the const keyword which is found in C++ are discussed. Whenever const keyword is attached with any method(), variable, pointer variable, and with the object of a class it prevents that specific object/method()/variable to modify its data items value. Constan
10 min read
Constants in C++
Constants in C++ refer to variables with fixed values that cannot be changed. Once they are defined in the program, they remain constant throughout the execution of the program. They can be of any available data type in C++ such as int, char, string, etc. Let's take a look at an example: [GFGTABS] C
4 min read
C++ 11 - <cstdint> Header
<cstdint> header in C++ ensures the portability of integer types with specialized width and signedness across various systems. The absence of standardization for integer types caused issues in coding and constructing portable programs before the advent of. In this article, we will explore the
3 min read
std::strncmp() in C++
std::strncmp() function in C++ lexicographically compares not more than count characters from the two null-terminated strings and returns an integer based on the outcome. This function is a Standard Library function that is defined in <cstring> header file in C++. Syntaxint strncmp(const char
5 min read