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Lightness Races in Orbit
Lightness Races in Orbit

Reputation: 385098

What is "ANSI C++"?

I've had someone tell me that C++98 was written under ANSI before being formally standardised as ISO/IEC 14882:1998.

I know that ANSI was involved with C, but I can't seem to find much in the way of proof that the phrase "ANSI C++" is terribly accurate.

Upvotes: 11

Views: 19590

Answers (6)

Erik
Erik

Reputation: 91260

Initially, in '89, the standardization of C++ was handled by ANSI X3J16. Starting in '91 ISO WG21 joined in. You may want to read BS's A History of C++: 1979-1991. IMO, "ANSI C++" is just a leftover name; the language is "ISO C++" even though ANSI is indirectly involved in the standardization.

Upvotes: 15

Mike Seymour
Mike Seymour

Reputation: 254431

C++98 was developed by an international committee, part of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ANSI, and other national standards bodies, are members of this committee. The international standard has been adopted by ANSI as the US national standard, and likewise by many other national standards bodies.

Earlier versions were developed commercially in the US by AT&T; I'm not sure whether or not ANSI was involved in intermediate versions (EDIT: but Erik's answer suggests that it was, briefly).

Is "ANSI C++" a good description for C++98?

I would call it "Standard C++", or "C++98", or just "C++" if it's clear that I'm talking about the current standard. While technically accurate, "ANSI C++" might confuse people who don't realise that it means the same thing, particularly people from other countries who might not know what ANSI is. I would probably get odd looks if I called it "British Standard C++", an equally accurate description.

Is "ANSI C++" a good description for subsequent versions of the C++ standard?

Same answer. The C++ standards are developed by ISO, and adopted by ANSI and other bodies.

Upvotes: 2

Jerry Coffin
Jerry Coffin

Reputation: 490048

Sort of, but not really. There isn't, and never has been a separate ANSI standard for C++.

The current standard, however, is actually INCITS/ISO/IEC 14882-2003. As of 2003, INCITS became a separate ANSI-accredited organization. The name INCITS wasn't new, but previously, it had been part of ANSI. In 2003, it was "spun off" as a separate (but still ANSI-accredited) organization. The current (2003) standard therefore shows up as an INCITS/ISO/IEC standard, and I believe the upcoming (2011) standard will also.

Upvotes: 2

Cubbi
Cubbi

Reputation: 47408

This gotw page describes the relationship of ANSI and ISO as far as C++ is concerned, briefly:

The official names of the ISO and U.S. committees are:

ISO/IEC JTC1/SC22/WG21 - C++ (ISO C++ committee)

INCITS PL22.16 - C++ (the U.S. C++ committee, often called the "ANSI C++ committee" -- although more accurately INCITS is a separate organization that is not a part of ANSI but is accredited by ANSI to develop U.S. standards) (previously called X3J16 and J16)

These two groups together are often referred to in the singular as "the C++ committee" because they meet and do their work together. The meetings are always in the same room at the same time

It sounds like the ISO standard developed by this committee automatically becomes the U.S. standard, although I am sure people who actually work in those committees can explain better.

Upvotes: 6

user2100815
user2100815

Reputation:

The ISO working party creates the standard. C++98 had a lot of work done on standardisation in America (because that's where C++ was created, and where its creators lived) before the standardisation was taken under the auspices of the ISO committee (who were the same people). The final ISO Standard was then adopted by ANSI, and other national standards authorities.

I've always referred to Standard C++ as "Standard C++".

Upvotes: 1

user541686
user541686

Reputation: 210352

AFAIK when they say "ANSI C++", they really mean "no compiler-specific extensions".

Upvotes: 1

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