What is the (...) called in C and C++?

Question

One of the uses of ... is to denote variadic entities in C and C++.

• What is its name?

• Is it classified as an operator or something else when used that way?

• Any other details regarding ...?

Edit: I know the purpose of .... I am asking about its name and classification, which I hope, is similar in C and C++.

Darwen

Does this answer your question? In a C function declaration, what does "..." as the last parameter do? – Vicechancellor

C variadic functions and C++ variadic template arguments are completely different, can you give context in which you found it? (PS, C/C++ doesn't exist, please pick one) – Salesgirl

I just want to know its name and classification – Darwen

Answer 1

It is one of the punctuators.

6.4.6  Punctuators
Syntax punctuator:
     one of  [    ]    (    )    {   }    .    ->
             ++   --   &    *    +   -    ~    !
             /    %    <<   >>   <   >    <=   >=    ==   !=   ^   |   &&   ||
             ?    :    ;    ...
             =    *=   /=   %=   +=  -=   <<=  >>=   &=   ^=   |=
             ,    #    ##
             <:   :>   <%   %>   %:   %:%:

In the function declaration it is called the ellipsis.

---

Ellipsis is also used by some compiler C language extensions. Example - gcc switch/case range extension

const char *test(unsigned num)
{
    switch(num)
    {
        case 0 ... 9:
            return "the value is in the 0 to 9 range";
        case 10 ... 99:
            return "the value is in the 10 to 99 range";
        default:
            return "out of tested range";
    }
}

https://godbolt.org/z/YBLma-

Unpopular

However, as one of the comments in my question mentioned about parameter packs, why didn't you mention it in your answer? – Darwen

Link to the C11 Standard: port70.net/~nsz/c/c11/n1570.html#6.4.6 – Dunstan

@ArdentCoder: It's still called an ellipsis in C++, even for parameter packs. – Budde

I would add that ... is not an operator, because it cannot form part of an expression (in the sense of 'expression' defined by C11 §6.5). It has more in common with { } and ; than with the other punctuators. – Acumen

@Acumen In C++ the token ... can be part of an expression. But it's not considered an operator by the formal syntax. – Loella

@ArdentCoder Fold expressions: en.cppreference.com/w/cpp/language/fold – Loella

Answer 2

The ... is referred to as an ellipsis both in English and in the C standard.

Nazario

Answer 3

One of the uses of ... is to denote variadic entities in C and C++.`

Yes, In layman's terms ... can be thought of as denoting more than one or multiples (as in pseudo-code punctuation we sometimes use multiple dots to resemble different types) of a use case, for which if we consider variadics (being multiple in the sense of 'varying' arguments/parameters) in C++, it would refer to a variable number of arguments for functions or templates.

What is its name?

Ellipsis

Is it classified as an operator or something else when used in that way?

No, it's definitely not an operator as it allows you to pass any number of arguments, not operate on them.

Any other details regarding ...?

As far as I know -

1. Its a special specifier;
2. The ellipsis always comes last in the argument list;
3. As far as its usage is concerned, its only used when you want to remove the limits on the number of parameters for a template/function or when you require to have an extensible number of parameters for expansion. (i.e. it provides parameter pack expansion in a variadic class template or function template) In practice we mostly require a fixed set of known parameters, so it isn't applicable to most cases;
4. It can be used with sizeof operator, as it's classified as a pack expansion as well.

Edit: I know the purpose of ... I am asking about its name and classification, which I hope, is similar in both C and C++.

The name is same, but usage may vary for C++ and C.

Am only familiar with its use in the former language. (I remember having a HackerRank problem on Variadics, covering its utility.)

Overcareful

Answer 4

The sequence of three full stops ... is called an ellipsis in both C and C++

---

In C++, the ellipsis helps initialize and expand different kinds of packs.

• A parameter pack - when there is an ellipsis between the type and the identifier
  Type ... identifier

• A pack expansion - consists of a pattern and an ellipsis
  pattern...

Woadwaxen