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Compiler Limits

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The C++ standard recommends limits for various language constructs. The following is a list of cases where the Microsoft C++ compiler does not implement the recommended limits. The first number is the limit that is established in the ISO C++11 standard (INCITS/ISO/IEC 14882-2011[2012], Annex B) and the second number is the limit implemented by the Microsoft C++ compiler:

  • Nesting levels of compound statements, iteration control structures, and selection control structures - C++ standard: 256, Microsoft C++ compiler: depends on the combination of statements that are nested, but generally between 100 and 110.

  • Parameters in one macro definition - C++ standard: 256, Microsoft C++ compiler using /Zc:preprocessor-:127 or using /Zc:preprocessor:32767.

  • Arguments in one macro invocation - C++ standard: 256, Microsoft C++ compiler using /Zc:preprocessor-:127 or using /Zc:preprocessor:32767.

  • Characters in a character string literal or wide string literal (after concatenation) - C++ standard: 65536, Microsoft C++ compiler: 65535 single-byte characters, including the NULL terminator, and 32767 double-byte characters, including the NULL terminator.

  • Levels of nested class, structure, or union definitions in a single struct-declaration-list - C++ standard: 256, Microsoft C++ compiler: 16.

  • Member initializers in a constructor definition - C++ standard: 6144, Microsoft C++ compiler: at least 6144.

  • Scope qualifications of one identifier - C++ standard: 256, Microsoft C++ compiler: 127.

  • Nested extern specifications - C++ standard: 1024, Microsoft C++ compiler: 9 (not counting the implicit extern specification in global scope, or 10, if you count the implicit extern specification in global scope..

  • Template arguments in a template declaration - C++ standard: 1024, Microsoft C++ compiler: 2046.

See also

Nonstandard Behavior