C++ Keywords Last Updated : 23 Jul, 2025 Comments Improve Suggest changes Like Article Like Report Keywords are the reserved words that have special meanings in the C++ language. They are the words that have special meaning in the language. C++ uses keywords for a specifying the components of the language, such as void, int, public, etc. They can't be used for a variable name, function name or any other identifiers.The total number of keywords in C++ are 93 up to C++ 23 specification. Below is the table for all C++ keywords:alignasalignofandand_eqasmautobitandbitorboolbreakcasecatchcharchar8_tchar16_tchar32_tclasscomplconceptconstconstevalconstexprconstinitconst_castcontinueco_awaitco_returnco_yielddecltypedefaultdeletedodoubledynamic_castelseenumexplicitexportexternfalsefinalfloatforfriendgotoifinlineintlongmutablenamespacenewnoexceptnotnot_eqnullptroperatororor_eqprivateprotectedpublicregisterreinterpret_castrequiresreturnshortsignedsizeofstaticstatic_assertstatic_caststructswitchtemplatethisthread_localthrowtruetrytypedeftypeidtypenameunionunsignedusingvirtualvoidvolatilewchar_twhilexorxor_eqNote: The number of keywords C++ has evolved over time as new features were added to the language. For example, C++ 98 had 63 keywords, C++ 11 had 84 keywords, C++ Keywords vs IdentifiersSo, there are some properties of keywords that distinguish keywords from identifiers. They listed in the below tableKeywords IdentifiersKeywords are predefined/reserved words identifiers are the values used to define different programming items like a variable, integers, structures, and unions.It defines the type of entity.It classifies the name of the entity.A keyword contains only alphabetical characters, an identifier can consist of alphabetical characters, digits, and underscores.It should be lowercase.It can be both upper and lowercase.No special symbols or punctuations are used in keywords and identifiers. No special symbols or punctuations are used in keywords and identifiers. The only underscore can be used in an identifier.Example: int, char, while, do.Example: Geeks_for_Geeks, GFG, Gfg1. Comment More infoAdvertise with us V varshachoudhary Follow Improve Article Tags : C++ CPP-Basics Practice Tags : CPP Explore C++ Programming Language 5 min read C++ OverviewIntroduction to C++ Programming Language 3 min read Features of C++ 5 min read History of C++ 7 min read Interesting Facts about C++ 2 min read Setting up C++ Development Environment 8 min read Difference between C and C++ 3 min read C++ BasicsUnderstanding First C++ Program 4 min read C++ Basic Syntax 4 min read C++ Comments 3 min read Tokens in C 4 min read C++ Keywords 2 min read Difference between Keyword and Identifier in C 3 min read C++ Variables and ConstantsC++ Variables 4 min read Constants in C 4 min read Scope of Variables in C++ 7 min read Storage Classes in C++ with Examples 6 min read Static Keyword in C++ 5 min read C++ Data Types and LiteralsC++ Data Types 7 min read Literals in C 4 min read Derived Data Types in C++ 4 min read User Defined Data Types in C++ 4 min read Data Type Ranges and Their Macros in C++ 3 min read C++ Type Modifiers 4 min read Type Conversion in C++ 4 min read Casting Operators in C++ 5 min read C++ OperatorsOperators in C++ 9 min read C++ Arithmetic Operators 4 min read Unary Operators in C 5 min read Bitwise Operators in C 6 min read Assignment Operators in C 4 min read C++ sizeof Operator 3 min read Scope Resolution Operator in C++ 4 min read C++ Input/OutputBasic Input / Output in C++ 5 min read cin in C++ 4 min read cout in C++ 2 min read Standard Error Stream Object - cerr in C++ 2 min read Manipulators in C++ 4 min read C++ Control StatementsDecision Making in C (if , if..else, Nested if, if-else-if ) 7 min read C++ if Statement 3 min read C++ if else Statement 3 min read C++ if else if Ladder 3 min read Switch Statement in C++ 5 min read Jump statements in C++ 4 min read C++ Loops 7 min read for Loop in C++ 6 min read Range-Based for Loop in C++ 3 min read C++ While Loop 3 min read C++ do while Loop 4 min read C++ FunctionsFunctions in C++ 8 min read return Statement in C++ 4 min read Parameter Passing Techniques in C 3 min read Difference Between Call by Value and Call by Reference in C 4 min read Default Arguments in C++ 5 min read Inline Functions in C++ 6 min read Lambda Expression in C++ 4 min read C++ Pointers and ReferencesPointers and References in C++ 5 min read C++ Pointers 8 min read Dangling, Void , Null and Wild Pointers in C 6 min read Applications of Pointers in C 4 min read Understanding nullptr in C++ 3 min read References in C++ 5 min read Can References Refer to Invalid Location in C++? 2 min read Pointers vs References in C++ 5 min read Passing By Pointer vs Passing By Reference in C++ 5 min read When do we pass arguments by pointer? 5 min read Like
