The C++ Core Guidelines are a set of guidelines for writing C++ programs, edited by Bjarne Stroustrup and Herb Sutter.
Cpp Core Guidelines
The C++ Core Guidelines provide established guidance for writing safer and simpler C++ programs.
About Cpp Core Guidelines
The C++ Core Guidelines are a set of rules and best practices for using modern C++ (C++11 and newer). They focus on higher-level topics such as interfaces, resource management, memory management, and concurrency, with an emphasis on safety and simplicity.
The document is maintained in Markdown, is updated without a strict release cadence, and can be freely copied and modified for organizational needs. Many guidelines use the header-only Guidelines Support Library, and the rules are designed to be checked by analysis tools and introduced gradually into existing code bases.
Key features
- Guidance for interfaces, resource and memory management, and concurrency
- Rules intended to support static type safety and avoid resource leaks
- Header-only Guidelines Support Library referenced by many guidelines
- Document in Markdown kept simple for translation and reformatting
- Rules designed for checking by analysis tools with rule references
- Version tags in git when version number is incremented
Best for: People writing C++11 and newer who want higher-level guidance on interfaces, resource management, and concurrency.
Good for
- Can be freely copied and modified to meet organizational needs
- Meant for gradual introduction into an existing code base
- Designed to be supported by analysis tools with references to rules
Watch out for
- Browsable version can be slightly older than the master branch version
- Initial rules may be too strict and need more exceptions
- Less focus on low-level issues such as naming and indentation style
Cpp Core Guidelines at a glance
- Category
- Education & Learning › Learn to Code
- Type
- Open-source project
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Open source
- Not stated
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 5, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
Cpp Core Guidelines alternatives
Tools and sites you could use instead, ranked by how closely they match.
30 Seconds of Code offers hundreds of short coding articles to help readers practice programming skills.
You Don’t Know JS is a book series that explores the core mechanisms of the JavaScript language.
Coding Problems provides solutions to coding and algorithm problems and multiple programming exercises.
Open source
24 alternatives
System Design Academy points readers to a newsletter about AI engineering and system design.
The system design primer explains large-scale system design and includes interview preparation material and Anki flashcards.
Popular in Learn to Code
Well-known listings from the same topic.
Codelabscodelabs.developers.google.comScratchscratch.mit.eduTelegram Bot APIcore.telegram.org/botsStudent Developer Packeducation.github.com/packHacksplaininghacksplaining.comQB64SourceCodeqb64tutorial.com
Cpp Core Guidelines FAQ
What versions of C++ do the guidelines cover?
Modern C++, defined as C++11 and newer.
How are the guidelines versioned?
There is no strict release cadence; Bjarne Stroustrup periodically reviews the document and increments the version number, and those checkins are tagged in git.
Do I need to memorize all the rules before writing code?
No. The rules are designed to be supported by an analysis tool that flags violations with references to the relevant rule.
Is something wrong or out of date?
Tell us and an editor will check it.
Own this website?
Claim this listing
Claim the listing and suggest updates yourself. An editor checks every claim first.