C++03

C++03 (ISO/IEC 14882:2003) is a bug-fix release of C++98. It introduced no new language features, but fixed several Defect Reports in the standard text.

Positioning

C++03 is considered a "revision" of C++98; the differences between the two are virtually invisible in day-to-day programming. The next major change would not arrive until C++11 (originally planned as C++0x).

Major Corrections

• Value Initialization: Clarified the behavior of the T() syntax, distinguishing default initialization, value initialization, and zero initialization
• Corrections to std::string and std::allocator
• Refinement of two-phase name lookup rules for templates
• Clarification of the semantics of exception specifications

Why It Matters

Although C++03 itself introduced no new features, understanding its corrections ensures you have a correct understanding of the following:

• Why new T() and new T behave differently for built-in types
• The two-phase name lookup rules during template instantiation
• The precise behavior of auto_ptr under C++03 semantics

Further Reading

• Changes and Corrections