C++23 brings several exciting enhancements that simplify code, improve performance, and offer new ways to express common patterns. In this article we’ll walk through the most impactful additions, illustrate their use with concrete examples, and discuss how they can fit into your existing codebase.
1. The <span> Library Extension
std::span was introduced in C++20 to provide a lightweight, non-owning view over contiguous sequences. C++23 extends this concept with rotated and partitioned views:
#include <span>
#include <algorithm>
#include <vector>
#include <iostream>
int main() {
std::vector <int> data = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6};
std::span <int> s(data);
// Rotate the span to start at index 3
std::rotate(s.begin(), s.begin() + 3, s.end());
for (int x : s) std::cout << x << ' '; // prints 4 5 6 1 2 3
}The ability to rotate a span in place allows algorithms that operate on cyclic data (like ring buffers) to be written more cleanly.
2. std::erase_if for Containers
Before C++23, erasing elements from a container usually required a loop or the erase‑erase idiom:
auto it = std::remove_if(v.begin(), v.end(), [](int x){ return x < 0; });
v.erase(it, v.end());C++23 introduces std::erase_if, a single call that removes all elements satisfying a predicate:
std::vector <int> v = {5, -1, 3, -2, 4};
std::erase_if(v, [](int x){ return x < 0; });
// v now contains {5, 3, 4}This eliminates boilerplate and improves readability.
3. std::expected – A Better Alternative to Exceptions
Handling error states can be tricky. std::expected<T, E> gives a type-safe, exception-free error propagation mechanism:
#include <expected>
#include <string>
std::expected<int, std::string> parse(const std::string& s) {
try {
return std::stoi(s);
} catch (const std::exception& e) {
return std::unexpected(std::string("Parse error: ") + e.what());
}
}
int main() {
auto res = parse("42");
if (res) {
std::cout << "Parsed: " << *res << '\n';
} else {
std::cerr << "Error: " << res.error() << '\n';
}
}std::expected integrates naturally with modern C++ features such as structured bindings and optional-like usage, while keeping the error handling logic close to the function that generates it.
4. Module System Improvements
Modules were introduced in C++20 to replace the old preprocessor-based inclusion model. C++23 brings module partitions, allowing a single module interface to be split across multiple files for better parallel compilation:
// partition1.cppm
export module math:core;
export int add(int a, int b);
// partition2.cppm
module math:core;
int sub(int a, int b) { return a - b; }These partitions enable faster builds, especially for large projects with complex header dependencies.
5. std::ranges::join and std::ranges::partition
C++23 extends the Ranges library with new view combinators:
#include <ranges>
#include <vector>
#include <string>
#include <iostream>
std::vector<std::string> words = {"hello", "world"};
auto joined = words | std::ranges::join; // concatenates strings
for (char c : joined) std::cout << c; // prints "helloworld"These utilities reduce the need for manual loops and make range-based algorithms more expressive.
6. Compile-Time std::format
While std::format was in C++20, C++23 offers a compile-time variant, std::compile_time_format, which ensures format strings are valid during compilation:
constexpr auto greeting = std::compile_time_format("Hello, {}!", "world");
static_assert(greeting == "Hello, world!");This eliminates a class of runtime formatting errors and boosts performance by removing the parsing step at runtime.
7. Practical Tips for Migrating
| Feature | Migration Tip | Example |
|---|---|---|
std::erase_if |
Replace remove_if/erase idiom |
std::erase_if(v, pred); |
std::expected |
Use with std::optional or error codes |
auto result = parse(s); if (!result) handle(result.error()); |
| Modules | Start with export module in small units |
export module mylib; |
| Ranges | Prefer ranges::views over std::algorithm |
auto filtered = v | std::ranges::filter(pred); |
8. Conclusion
C++23 equips developers with more powerful abstractions, safer error handling, and improved build performance. By integrating these features into your code, you can write clearer, more efficient, and more maintainable C++ programs. Happy coding!