The C++ Core Guidelines are a set of guidelines for writing C++ programs, edited by Bjarne Stroustrup and Herb Sutter.

isocpp.github.io/CppCoreGuidelines/CppCoreGuid…
C++ Core Guidelines homepage screenshot

About C++ Core Guidelines

The C++ Core Guidelines is a set of guidelines for using C++ well, edited by Bjarne Stroustrup and Herb Sutter. It focuses on high-level topics such as interfaces, resource management, memory management, and concurrency, covering modern C++ described as C++20 with most recommendations also applying to C++17, C++14 and C++11.

It is a living document under continuous improvement. The source states the rules have not been completely checked for completeness, consistency, or enforceability, and that known missing information is marked with ???.

Key features

  • Rules for interfaces, functions, classes and class hierarchies
  • Guidance on resource management, memory management and concurrency
  • Recommendations for error handling, templates and standard library use
  • Sections on expressions, statements, performance, constants and immutability
  • Advice on C-style programming, source files and enumerations
  • Rules browsable by language feature such as constructors and lambdas
Best for: People writing C++ who want guidance on using modern C++.
Good for
  • Covers high-level issues such as interfaces and resource management
  • Most recommendations apply to C++11 through C++20
  • Use, copying, modification and derivative works under MIT-style license
Watch out for
  • Rules have not been completely checked for completeness, consistency, or enforceability
  • Contains known missing information marked with ???
  • Many pre-C++11 reference sources are noted as too old

C++ Core Guidelines at a glance

Type
Website
Pricing
Not confirmed. Check the site
Platforms
Web
Open source
Not stated
Language
English
Last checked
Oct 5, 2026 · Online when checked
Listed
Oct 5, 2026

C++ Core Guidelines alternatives

Tools and sites you could use instead, ranked by how closely they match.

All 24 alternatives

Scratch

scratch.mit.edu

Scratch lets people create interactive stories, games, and animations with a visual programming language and online community.

Codility

app.codility.com/programmers

Codility Developer Training offers hands-on programming lessons, including exercises on topics such as binary gaps.

Popular in Learn to Code

Well-known listings from the same topic.

All 387
Is something wrong or out of date?

Tell us and an editor will check it.

Own this website?

Claim the listing and suggest updates yourself. An editor checks every claim first.

Claim this listing