Language and Standard Library

Primary lookup sites

• cppreference: the main day-to-day lookup site for standard library APIs, language syntax, named requirements, and header contents.
• C++ standard library overview on Microsoft Learn: useful when you want library notes in the MSVC ecosystem.

Best use cases

• Use cppreference for quick checks of signatures, iterator invalidation, complexity, feature-test macros, and header relationships.
• Use vendor library docs when behavior, implementation notes, or platform integration details matter.

Practical habit

• Keep one reference tab open while reading handbook pages so you can cross-check APIs without losing context.

When to start here

• you need fast confirmation of a signature, header, complexity rule, or invalidation note
• you are comparing handbook guidance with an authoritative library or language reference
• you want a vendor-specific library note after checking the general rule first

Fast lookup workflow

1. Start with cppreference for the general rule, signature, or header.
2. Check vendor docs when the issue involves implementation notes, platform behavior, or ecosystem-specific guidance.
3. Return to the handbook when you want the broader teaching context or surrounding tradeoffs.

What to look up first

• header name and required include
• complexity guarantees and iterator invalidation notes
• value-category, ownership, and lifetime expectations
• feature-test macros or standard-version availability when using newer facilities

Fast library-reference habit

If you are checking a container, scan construction, modifier operations, invalidation, and lookup complexity before writing code. If you are checking a vocabulary type, scan ownership or error-transport semantics before looking at helper members.

Language-rule workflow

1. Use the handbook page to frame the topic and major tradeoffs.
2. Use cppreference to confirm exact syntax, guarantees, and edge cases.
3. Verify the rule in a tiny local program when the consequence affects performance, overload resolution, or lifetime.