Punctuation

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

Contents 1 Preprocessing operators 1.1 # (including % : ) 1.2 ## (including % : % : ) 2 Single-character operators and punctuators 2.1 { and } (including < % and % > ) 2.2 [ and ] (including < : and : > ) 2.3 ( and ) 2.4 ; 2.5 : 2.6 ? 2.7 . 2.8 ~ (including compl ) 2.9 ! (including not ) 2.10 + 2.11 - 2.12 * 2.13 / 2.14 % 2.15 ^ (including xor ) 2.16 & (including bitand ) 2.17 | (including bitor ) 2.18 = 2.19 < 2.20 > 2.21 , 3 Multi-character operators and punctuators 3.1 ... 3.2 :: 3.3 . * 3.4 - > 3.5 - > * 3.6 + = 3.7 - = 3.8 * = 3.9 / = 3.10 % = 3.11 ^ = (including xor_eq ) 3.12 & = (including and_eq ) 3.13 | = (including or_eq ) 3.14 == 3.15 ! = (including not_eq ) 3.16 <= 3.17 >= 3.18 <=> 3.19 && (including and ) 3.20 || (including or ) 3.21 << 3.22 >> 3.23 <<= 3.24 >>= 3.25 ++ 3.26 -- 4 References 5 See also

Preprocessing operators

Preprocessing operators are recognized by preprocessors .

# (including % : )

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

## (including % : % : )

• The preprocessing operator for token pasting .

Single-character operators and punctuators

{ 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

a lambda expression

(since C++11)

• 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.

In a requires expression , delimit the requirements. In a compound requirement , delimit the expression. In an export declaration , delimit the declarations.

(since C++20)

[ 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) .

In a lambda expression , delimit the captures . In an attribute specifier , delimit the attributes.	(since C++11)
In a structured binding declaration , delimit the identifier list.	(since C++17)
In a pack indexing , delimit converted constant expression representing an index.	(since C++26)

( 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

sizeof... alignof noexcept

(since C++11)

• 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 )

a lambda expression	(since C++11)
a user-defined deduction guide	(since C++17)
a requires expression	(since C++20)

• 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

range-based for

(since C++11)

• 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.

In a static_assert declaration, delimit the operands. Delimit the operand of the following specifiers: decltype noexcept alignas explicit (since C++20) In an attribute , delimit the attribute arguments.	(since C++11)
Part of decltype(auto) specifier.	(since C++14)
Delimit a fold expression .	(since C++17)
Part of __VA_OPT__ replacement in a variadic macro definition.	(since C++20)

;

• Indicate the end of

• a statement
• a declaration or member declaration

a module declaration , import declaration, global module fragment introducer, or private module fragment introducer a requirement

(since C++20)

• Separate the condition and statement of a for statement .

:

• 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.

In a range-based for statement, separate the item-declaration and the range-initializer . In the enum-base of an enumeration declaration , introduce the underlying type.	(since C++11)
In an attribute specifier , separate the attribute-namespace and the attribute-list .	(since C++17)
In a module declaration or import declaration of module partition, introduce the module partition name. Part of a private module fragment introducer ( module : private ; ).	(since C++20)

?

• Part of conditional operator .

.

• Member access operator .

In aggregate initialization , introduce a designator. Part of module name or module partition name .

(since C++20)

~ (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.

! (including not )

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

Part of consteval if statement.

(since C++23)

+

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

-

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

*

• Indirection operator ; part of operator * in operator overloading .
• Multiplication operator ; part of operator * in operator overloading .
• Pointer operator or part of pointer-to-member operator in a declarator or in a type-id .

Part of * this in a lambda capture list, to capture the current object by copy.

(since C++17)

/

• Division operator ; part of operator / in operator overloading .

%

• Modulo operator ; part of operator % in operator overloading .

^ (including xor )

• Bitwise xor operator ; part of operator ^ in operator overloading .

& (including bitand )

• Address-of operator ; part of operator & in operator overloading .
• Bitwise and operator ; part of operator & in operator overloading .
• Lvalue-reference operator in a declarator or in a type-id .

In a lambda capture , indicate by-reference capture. Ref-qualifier in member function declaration .

(since C++11)

| (including bitor )

• Bitwise or operator ; part of operator | in operator overloading .

=

• Simple assignment operator ; part of operator = in operator overloading , which might be a special member function ( copy assignment operator or move assignment operator (since C++11) ).
• Part of the copy-initialization and aggregate initialization (until C++11) copy-list-initialization (since C++11) syntax of an initializer .
• In a function declaration , introduce a default argument .
• In a template parameter list , introduce a default template argument .
• In a namespace alias definition , separate the alias and the aliased namespace.
• In an enum definition , introduce the value of enumerator.
• Part of pure-specifier in a pure virtual function declaration .

Capture default in lambda capture , to indicate by-copy capture. Part of defaulted definition ( = default ; ) or deleted definition ( = delete ; ) in function definition . In a type alias declaration , separate the alias and the aliased type.	(since C++11)
In a concept definition , separate the concept name and the constraint expression.	(since C++20)

<

• Less-than operator ; part of operator < in operator overloading .
• In a static_cast , const_cast , reinterpret_cast , or dynamic_cast , introduce the type-id.
• Introduce a template argument list .
• Introduce a template parameter list in

• a template declaration
• a partial specialization

a lambda expression

(since C++20)

• Part of template <> in template specialization declaration .
• Introduce a header name in

• a #include directive

a __has_include preprocessing expression	(since C++17)
an import declaration	(since C++20)

>

• Greater-than operator ; part of operator > in operator overloading .
• static_cast , const_cast , reinterpret_cast , or dynamic_cast , indicate the end of type-id.
• Indicate the end of a template argument list .
• Indicate the end of a template parameter list in

• a template declaration
• a partial specialization

a lambda expression

(since C++20)

• Part of template <> in template specialization declaration .
• Indicate the end of a header name in

• a #include directive

a __has_include preprocessing expression	(since C++17)
an import declaration	(since C++20)

,

• Comma operator ; part of operator, in operator overloading .
• List separator in

• the declarator list in a declaration
• initializer list in initialization
• the placement argument list in a placement new
• the argument list in a function call expression
• the enumerator list in an enum declaration
• the base class list in a class declaration
• the member initializer list in a constructor definition
• a function parameter list
• a template parameter list
• a template argument list

a lambda capture list an attribute list	(since C++11)
the declarator list in a using-declaration the identifier list in a structured binding declaration	(since C++17)
the argument list in a multi-argument subscript expression	(since C++23)

• the macro parameter list in a function-like macro definition
• the macro argument list in a function-like macro invocation , unless found between the parentheses of an argument

In a static_assert declaration, separate the arguments.

(since C++11)

Multi-character operators and punctuators

...

• In the parameter list of a function declarator or lambda expression (since C++11) or user-defined deduction guide (since C++17) , signify a variadic function .
• In a handler , signify catch-all handler.

In a macro definition , signify a variadic macro. Indicate pack declaration and expansion.	(since C++11)
In pack indexing expression and specifier.	(since C++26)

::

• Scope resolution operator in

• a qualified name
• a pointer-to-member declaration
• a new or delete expression, to indicate that only global allocation or deallocation functions are looked up

In an attribute , indicate attribute scope.	(since C++11)
Part of nested namespace definition .	(since C++17)

. *

• Pointer-to-member access operator .

- >

• Member access operator ; part of operator - > in operator overloading .

In a function declarator or lambda expression , introduce the trailing return type.	(since C++11)
In a user-defined deduction guide , introduce the result type.	(since C++17)
In a compound requirement , introduce the return type requirement.	(since C++20)

- > *

• Pointer-to-member access operator ; part of operator - > * in operator overloading .

+ =

• Compound assignment operator ; part of operator + = in operator overloading .

- =

• Compound assignment operator ; part of operator - = in operator overloading .

* =

• Compound assignment operator ; part of operator * = in operator overloading .

/ =

• Compound assignment operator ; part of operator / = in operator overloading .

% =

• Compound assignment operator ; part of operator % = in operator overloading .

^ = (including xor_eq )

• Compound assignment operator ; part of operator ^ = in operator overloading .

& = (including and_eq )

• Compound assignment operator ; part of operator & = in operator overloading .

| = (including or_eq )

• Compound assignment operator ; part of operator | = in operator overloading .

==

• Equality operator ; part of operator == in operator overloading .

! = (including not_eq )

• Inequality operator ; part of operator ! = in operator overloading .

<=

• Less-than-or-equal-to operator ; part of operator <= in operator overloading .

>=

• Greater-than-or-equal-to operator ; part of operator >= in operator overloading .

<=> Three-way comparison (spaceship) operator ; part of operator <=> in operator overloading .

(since C++20)

&& (including and )

• Logical and operator ; part of operator && in operator overloading .

Rvalue-reference operator in a declarator or in a type-id . Ref-qualifier in member function declaration .

(since C++11)

|| (including or )

• Logical or operator ; part of operator || in operator overloading .

<<

• Bitwise shift operator ; part of operator << in operator overloading ( bitwise operator or stream insertion operator ).

>>

• Bitwise shift operator ; part of operator >> in operator overloading ( bitwise operator or stream extraction operator ).

<<=

• Compound assignment operator ; part of operator <<= in operator overloading .

>>=

• Compound assignment operator ; part of operator >>= in operator overloading .

++

• Increment operator ; part of operator ++ in operator overloading .

--

• Decrement operator ; part of operator -- in operator overloading .

References

See also

Alternative representations	alternative spellings for certain operators
C documentation for Punctuation