Punctuation

These are the punctuation symbols in C++. The meaning of each symbol is detailed in the linked pages.

[edit] Preprocessing operators

Preprocessing operators are recognized by preprocessors.

[edit] # (including %:)

• Introduce a preprocessing directive.
• The preprocessing operator for stringification.

[edit] ##(including %:%:)

• The preprocessing operator for token pasting.

[edit] Single-character operators and punctuators

[edit] { and } (including <% and %>)

• In a class definition, delimit the member specification.
• In an enumeration definition, delimit the enumerator list.
• Delimit a compound statement. The compound statement may be part of

• a function definition
• a try block

• Part of the aggregate initialization(until C++11)list-initialization(since C++11) syntax of an initializer.
• In a namespace definition, delimit the namespace body.
• In a language linkage specification, delimit the declarations.

[edit] [ and ] (including <: and :>)

• Subscript operator; part of operator[] in operator overloading.
• Part of array declarator in a declaration or a type-id (e.g. in a new expression).
• Part of new[] operator in operator overloading (allocation function).
• Part of delete[] operator in delete expression and operator overloading (deallocation function).

[edit] ( and )

• In an expression, indicate grouping.
• Function call operator; part of operator() in operator overloading.
• In a function-style type cast, delimit the expression/initializers.
• In a static_cast, const_cast, reinterpret_cast, or dynamic_cast, delimit the expression.
• Delimit the operand of the following operators:

• typeid
• sizeof

• In a placement new expression, delimit the placement arguments.
• In a new expression, optionally delimit the type-id.
• In a new expression, delimit the initializers.
• In a C-style cast, delimit the type-id.
• In a declaration or a type-id, indicate grouping.
• Delimit the parameter list in

• a function declarator (in a declaration or a type-id)

• Part of the direct-initialization syntax of an initializer.
• In an asm declaration, delimit the string literal.
• In a member initializer list, delimit the initializers to a base or member.
• Delimit the controlling clause of a selection statement or iteration statement, including:

• if (except consteval if)(since C++23)
• switch
• while
• do-while
• for

• In a handler, delimit the parameter declaration.
• In a function-like macro definition, delimit the macro parameters.
• In a function-like macro invocation, delimit the macro arguments or prevent commas from being interpreted as argument separators.
• Part of a defined, __has_include(since C++17), __has_cpp_attribute(since C++20) preprocessing operator.

[edit] ;

• Indicate the end of

• a statement
• a declaration or member declaration

• Separate the condition and statement of a for statement.

[edit] :

• Part of conditional operator.
• Part of label declaration.
• In the base-clause of a class definition, introduce the base class.
• Part of access specifier in member specification.
• In a bit-field member declaration, introduce the width.
• In a constructor definition, introduce the member initializer list.

[edit] ?

• Part of conditional operator.

[edit] .

• Member access operator.

[edit] ~ (including compl)

• Unary complement operator (a.k.a. bitwise not operator); part of operator~ in operator overloading.
• Part of an identifier expression to name a destructor or pseudo-destructor.

[edit] ! (including not)

• Logical not operator; part of operator! in operator overloading.

[edit] +

• Unary plus operator; part of operator+ in operator overloading.
• Binary plus operator; part of operator+ in operator overloading.

[edit] -

• Unary minus operator; part of operator- in operator overloading.
• Binary minus operator; part of operator- in operator overloading.

[edit] *

• Indirection operator; part of operator* in operator overloading.
• Multiplication operator; part of operator* in