Learning Modern Core Language Features

The C++ language has gone through a major transformation in the past decades with the development and release of C++11 and then, later, with its newer versions: C++14, C++17, C++20, and C++23. These new standards have introduced new concepts, simplified and extended existing syntax and semantics, and transformed the way we write code overall. C++11 looks and feels like a new language compared to what we previously knew, and code written using these new standards is called modern C++ code. This introductory chapter will touch on some of the language features introduced, starting with C++11, that help you with many coding routines. However, the core of the language expands way beyond the topics addressed in this chapter, and many other features are discussed in the other chapters of the book.

The recipes included in this chapter are as follows:

• Using auto whenever possible
• Creating type aliases and alias templates
• Understanding...