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Diagnostic directives

Shows the given error message and renders the program ill-formed, or shows the given warning message without affecting the validity of the program.  (since C++23)

Syntax

1#error
diagnostic-message
2#warning
diagnostic-message (since C++23)

Explanation

  1. After encountering the #error directive, an implementation displays the message diagnostic-message and renders the program ill-formed (the compilation stops).
  2. Same as (1), except the validity of the program is not affected and the compilation continues.
    diagnostic-message can consist of several words not necessarily in quotes.

Notes

Before its standardization in C++23, #warning has been provided by many compilers in all modes as a conforming extension.

Example

#if __STDC_HOSTED__ != 1
# error "Not a hosted implementation"
#endif

#if __cplusplus >= 202302L
# warning "Using #warning as a standard feature"
#endif

#include <iostream>

int main() {
std::cout << "The implementation used is hosted\n";
}
Result
The implementation used is hosted

References

  • C++23 standard (ISO/IEC 14882:2023):
    • 15.8 Error directive [cpp.error]
  • C++20 standard (ISO/IEC 14882:2020):
    • 15.8 Error directive [cpp.error]
  • C++17 standard (ISO/IEC 14882:2017):
    • 19.5 Error directive [cpp.error]
  • C++14 standard (ISO/IEC 14882:2014):
    • 16.5 Error directive [cpp.error]
  • C++11 standard (ISO/IEC 14882:2011):
    • 16.5 Error directive [cpp.error]
  • C++03 standard (ISO/IEC 14882:2003):
    • 16.5 Error directive [cpp.error]
  • C++98 standard (ISO/IEC 14882:1998):
    • 16.5 Error directive [cpp.error]

Diagnostic directives

Shows the given error message and renders the program ill-formed, or shows the given warning message without affecting the validity of the program.  (since C++23)

Syntax

1#error
diagnostic-message
2#warning
diagnostic-message (since C++23)

Explanation

  1. After encountering the #error directive, an implementation displays the message diagnostic-message and renders the program ill-formed (the compilation stops).
  2. Same as (1), except the validity of the program is not affected and the compilation continues.
    diagnostic-message can consist of several words not necessarily in quotes.

Notes

Before its standardization in C++23, #warning has been provided by many compilers in all modes as a conforming extension.

Example

#if __STDC_HOSTED__ != 1
# error "Not a hosted implementation"
#endif

#if __cplusplus >= 202302L
# warning "Using #warning as a standard feature"
#endif

#include <iostream>

int main() {
std::cout << "The implementation used is hosted\n";
}
Result
The implementation used is hosted

References

  • C++23 standard (ISO/IEC 14882:2023):
    • 15.8 Error directive [cpp.error]
  • C++20 standard (ISO/IEC 14882:2020):
    • 15.8 Error directive [cpp.error]
  • C++17 standard (ISO/IEC 14882:2017):
    • 19.5 Error directive [cpp.error]
  • C++14 standard (ISO/IEC 14882:2014):
    • 16.5 Error directive [cpp.error]
  • C++11 standard (ISO/IEC 14882:2011):
    • 16.5 Error directive [cpp.error]
  • C++03 standard (ISO/IEC 14882:2003):
    • 16.5 Error directive [cpp.error]
  • C++98 standard (ISO/IEC 14882:1998):
    • 16.5 Error directive [cpp.error]