Punctuation - cppreference.com (original) (raw)

These are the punctuation symbols in C++. The meaning of each symbol is detailed in the linked pages.

[edit] Preprocessing operators

Preprocessing operators are recognized by preprocessors.

[edit] # (including %:)

Introduce a preprocessing directive.
The preprocessing operator for stringification.

[edit] ##(including %:%:)

The preprocessing operator for token pasting.

[edit] Single-character operators and punctuators

[edit] { and } (including <% and %>)

In a class definition, delimit the member specification.
In an enumeration definition, delimit the enumerator list.
Delimit a compound statement. The compound statement may be part of
a function definition
a try block
Part of the aggregate initialization(until C++11)list-initialization(since C++11) syntax of an initializer.
In a namespace definition, delimit the namespace body.
In a language linkage specification, delimit the declarations.

In a requires expression, delimit the requirements. In a compound requirement, delimit the expression. In an export declaration, delimit the declarations.	(since C++20)

[edit] [ and ] (including <: and :>)

Subscript operator; part of operator[] in operator overloading.
Part of array declarator in a declaration or a type-id (e.g. in a new expression).
Part of new[] operator in operator overloading (allocation function).
Part of delete[] operator in delete expression and operator overloading (deallocation function).

[edit] ( and )

In an expression, indicate grouping.
Function call operator; part of operator() in operator overloading.
In a function-style type cast, delimit the expression/initializers.
In a static_cast, const_cast, reinterpret_cast, or dynamic_cast, delimit the expression.
Delimit the operand of the following operators:
typeid
sizeof
In a placement new expression, delimit the placement arguments.
In a new expression, optionally delimit the type-id.
In a new expression, delimit the initializers.
In a C-style cast, delimit the type-id.
In a declaration or a type-id, indicate grouping.
Delimit the parameter list in
a function declarator (in a declaration or a type-id)
Part of the direct-initialization syntax of an initializer.
In an asm declaration, delimit the string literal.
In a member initializer list, delimit the initializers to a base or member.
Delimit the controlling clause of a selection statement or iteration statement, including:
if (except consteval if)(since C++23)
switch
while
do-while
for
In a handler, delimit the parameter declaration.
In a function-like macro definition, delimit the macro parameters.
In a function-like macro invocation, delimit the macro arguments or prevent commas from being interpreted as argument separators.
Part of a defined, __has_include(since C++17), __has_cpp_attribute(since C++20) preprocessing operator.

[edit] ;

Indicate the end of
a statement
a declaration or member declaration

a module declaration, import declaration, global module fragment introducer, or private module fragment introducer a requirement	(since C++20)

Separate the condition and statement of a for statement.

[edit] :

Part of conditional operator.
Part of label declaration.
In the base-clause of a class definition, introduce the base class.
Part of access specifier in member specification.
In a bit-field member declaration, introduce the width.
In a constructor definition, introduce the member initializer list.

In a range-based for statement, separate the item-declaration and the range-initializer. In the enum-base of an enumeration declaration, introduce the underlying type.	(since C++11)
In an attribute specifier, separate the attribute-namespace and the attribute-list.	(since C++17)
In a module declaration or import declaration of module partition, introduce the module partition name. Part of a private module fragment introducer (module :private;).	(since C++20)

[edit] ?

Part of conditional operator.

[edit] .

Member access operator.

[edit] ~ (including compl)

Unary complement operator (a.k.a. bitwise not operator); part of operator~ in operator overloading.
Part of an identifier expression to name a destructor or pseudo-destructor.

[edit] ! (including not)

Logical not operator; part of operator! in operator overloading.

[edit] +

Unary plus operator; part of operator+ in operator overloading.
Binary plus operator; part of operator+ in operator overloading.

[edit] -

Unary minus operator; part of operator- in operator overloading.
Binary minus operator; part of operator- in operator overloading.

[edit] *

Indirection operator; part of operator* in operator overloading.
Multiplication operator; part of operator* in operator overloading.
Pointer operator or part of pointer-to-member operator in a declarator or in a type-id.

Part of *this in a lambda capture list, to capture the current object by copy.	(since C++17)

[edit] /

Division operator; part of operator/ in operator overloading.

[edit] %

Modulo operator; part of operator% in operator overloading.

[edit] ^ (including xor)

Bitwise xor operator; part of operator^ in operator overloading.

[edit] & (including bitand)

Address-of operator; part of operator& in operator overloading.
Bitwise and operator; part of operator& in operator overloading.
Lvalue-reference operator in a declarator or in a type-id.

[edit] | (including bitor)

Bitwise or operator; part of operator| in operator overloading.

[edit] =

Simple assignment operator; part of operator= in operator overloading, which might be a special member function (copy assignment operatoror move assignment operator(since C++11)).
Part of the copy-initialization and aggregate initialization(until C++11)copy-list-initialization(since C++11) syntax of an initializer.
In a function declaration, introduce a default argument.
In a template parameter list, introduce a default template argument.
In a namespace alias definition, separate the alias and the aliased namespace.
In an enum definition, introduce the value of enumerator.
Part of pure-specifier in a pure virtual function declaration.

Capture default in lambda capture, to indicate by-copy capture. Part of defaulted definition (=default;) or deleted definition (=delete;) in function definition. In a type alias declaration, separate the alias and the aliased type.	(since C++11)
In a concept definition, separate the concept name and the constraint expression.	(since C++20)

[edit] <

Less-than operator; part of operator< in operator overloading.
In a static_cast, const_cast, reinterpret_cast, or dynamic_cast, introduce the type-id.
Introduce a template argument list.
Introduce a template parameter list in
a template declaration
a partial specialization
Part of template<> in template specialization declaration.
Introduce a header name in
a #include directive

[edit] >

Greater-than operator; part of operator> in operator overloading.
static_cast, const_cast, reinterpret_cast, or dynamic_cast, indicate the end of type-id.
Indicate the end of a template argument list.
Indicate the end of a template parameter list in
a template declaration
a partial specialization
Part of template<> in template specialization declaration.
Indicate the end of a header name in
a #include directive

[edit] ,

Comma operator; part of operator, in operator overloading.
List separator in
the declarator list in a declaration
initializer list in initialization
the placement argument list in a placement new
the argument list in a function call expression
the enumerator list in an enum declaration
the base class list in a class declaration
the member initializer list in a constructor definition
a function parameter list
a template parameter list
a template argument list
the macro parameter list in a function-like macro definition
the macro argument list in a function-like macro invocation, unless found between the parentheses of an argument

In a static_assert declaration, separate the arguments.	(since C++11)

[edit] Multi-character operators and punctuators

[edit] ...

In the parameter list of a function declaratoror lambda expression(since C++11)or user-defined deduction guide(since C++17), signify a variadic function.
In a handler, signify catch-all handler.

[edit] ::

Scope resolution operator in
a qualified name
a pointer-to-member declaration
a new or delete expression, to indicate that only global allocation or deallocation functions are looked up

[edit] .*