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Editorial Team
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Asked: 2026-06-10T04:19:01+00:00

I know that auto has a little usage before because it is the default

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I know that auto has a little usage before because it is the default for variables (opposite to static) – see question
Consider however valid C++03 code where, maybe for self-explanatory, this keyword was used:

auto int foo2 = 8;

It compiles under C++03, and does not compile under C++11.
Is there any reason for not being back-compatible with C++03?
What was the source of standard committee opinion that this keyword was not used? Are there any statistics of keyword usage?

BTW i tested with gcc – maybe this is a compiler bug?

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  1. Editorial Team

    It was known that this breaks compatibility and is mentioned in Appendix C 2.3 Clause 7 of the standard. Given how useless auto has been and that it is really easy to fix the cost was deemed acceptable.

    As for keyword statistics: Some companies with huge code-bases are on the committee, they probably know if it was acceptable, but I could not dig up any full statistics.

    I did some standards archeology and the oldest paper that talks about auto seems to be N1478, which refers to a reflector message for the first discussing of auto (all later papers don’t talk about breaking compatibility or reasoning).

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