/Zc:__cplusplus (Enable updated __cplusplus macro)
The /Zc:__cplusplus compiler option enables the __cplusplus preprocessor macro to report an updated value for recent C++ language standards support. By default, Visual Studio always returns the value 199711L for the __cplusplus preprocessor macro.
Syntax
/Zc:__cplusplus[-]
Remarks
The __cplusplus preprocessor macro is commonly used to report support for a particular version of the C++ standard. Because a lot of existing code appears to depend on the value of this macro matching 199711L, the compiler doesn't change the value of the macro unless you explicitly opt in by using the /Zc:__cplusplus compiler option. The /Zc:__cplusplus option is available starting in Visual Studio 2017 version 15.7, and is off by default. In earlier versions of Visual Studio, and by default, or if /Zc:__cplusplus- is specified, Visual Studio returns the value 199711L for the __cplusplus preprocessor macro. The /permissive- option doesn't enable /Zc:__cplusplus.
When the /Zc:__cplusplus option is enabled, the value reported by the __cplusplus macro depends on the /std version option setting. This table shows the possible values for the macro:
/Zc:__cplusplus option |
/std option |
__cplusplus value |
|---|---|---|
Zc:__cplusplus |
/std:c++14 (default) |
201402L |
Zc:__cplusplus |
/std:c++17 |
201703L |
Zc:__cplusplus |
/std:c++20 |
202002L |
Zc:__cplusplus |
/std:c++latest |
see text |
Zc:__cplusplus- (disabled) |
Any value | 199711L |
| Not specified | Any value | 199711L |
The compiler doesn't support standards options for C++98, C++03, or C++11. The /std:c++20 option is available starting in Visual Studio 2019 version 16.11. The value of __cplusplus with the /std:c++latest option depends on the version of Visual Studio. It's always at least one higher than the highest supported __cplusplus standard value supported by your version of Visual Studio.
For finer-grained detection of changes to the compiler toolset, use the _MSC_VER predefined macro. The value of this built-in macro is incremented for every toolset update in Visual Studio 2017 and later versions. The _MSVC_LANG predefined macro reports the standard version whether the /Zc:__cplusplus option is enabled or disabled. When /Zc:__cplusplus is enabled, __cplusplus has the same value as _MSVC_LANG.
To set this compiler option in Visual Studio
Open the project's Property Pages dialog box. For details, see Set C++ compiler and build properties in Visual Studio.
Select the Configuration Properties > C/C++ > Command Line property page.
Add
/Zc:__cplusplusor/Zc:__cplusplus-to the Additional options: pane.
See also
/Zc (Conformance)
/std (Specify language standard version)
Predefined macros