C++ Cheat Sheet & Brain Markers

modern-c++.md

• std::byte for "plain byte data" instead of char, unsigned char or uint8_t
• use std::optional<T> for optional return values (kinda obvious, but you have to know)
• std::variant<T1,T2,...> is a C++ version of union
• use std::bitset<N> for bitfields
• structured bindings are useful for multiple return values:

  std::tuple<std::string, int>> get_name_and_age();
  auto [ name, age ] = get_name_and_age();

• template parameters can be "const T" which creates read-only fields even if the type itself is non-const:

  std::pair<const int, int> pair { 1 , 2 };
  pair.first  = 10; // not allowed
  pair.second = 20; // allowed

• #include <filesystem> provides directory and file information