The C++ Standard

Here is a press release that announced the final, official standard, ISO/IEC 14882-1998, "Information Technology -- Programming Languages -- C++," which is available for purchase in either PDF (currently $18) or hardcopy form (don't ask). The ANSI/ISO C++ Committee made some of the earlier drafts of the C++ Standard available to the public without charge. The last of these published drafts, dated December 1996, differs from the final official version only in a few small details. Thus you can use this draft to look up the definition of most language features and be reasonably confident of the answers (just don't bet the farm on it): hyperlinked version on the Rensselaer CS department Web server   PDF and Postscript versions at AT&T Labs [Note to on-site readers: don't attempt to print out the entire standard unless you have your own printer and paper--it's over 800 pages.]