C++14 Programming Language
C++14 was another important milestone in this evolution in language design that was released in 2014. Unlike previous versions like C++11 which had breakthrough features; it didn’t introduce any new developments but rather included many of them that facilitate faster work by programmers, better coding, and more powerful programming
Key Features
1. Generic lambdas
The use of generic lambdas by developers is instrumental in making shortest codes look more expressive. Utilizing generic lambda functions leads to the creation of ones that can work on different types of inputs without specifically stating template parameters.
auto sum = [](auto a, auto b) { return a + b; };
2. Relaxation of constexpr Restrictions
The use of the constexpr specifier in C++11 indicated that a function or variable could be evaluated during compilation, but C++14 relaxed some of the rules that governed a constexpr function, thereby making it more flexible.
constexpr int square(int x) {
return x * x;
}
3. Binary Literals:
With help from 0b prefix, binary literals are supported in C++14 as they allow direct representation of binary numbers within source code.
int binaryNumber = 0b1010;
4. Automatic Return Type Deduction for Functions
Introduced in C++11 and continued in C++14, auto return type deduction for functions makes the compiler to deduce the return type from a function’s return statement.
auto add(int a, int b) {
return a + b; // Compiler deduces return type as int
}
Apart from others, these characteristics were responsible for making C++, as a language, more expressive and also helped in reducing the length of C++ code as well as maintaining it.
The Key Differences Between C++14, C++17, and C++20
This language has come a long way and overcome numerous challenges in software engineering, for example, those stemming from its changing nature; thus reasserting its resilience and flexibility. Stroustrup originally developed C++ as an extension of C programming language during the late 1970s to ensure efficiency and low-level control while being more abstract.
These functions have introduced new features, improved performance, and optimizations in various iterations. Such iterations are necessary to keep abreast with the times and tackle emerging requirements and issues regarding contemporary software development