C++ attribute: nodiscard (since C++17)

 

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Attributes

noreturn‎ (C++11)

carries_dependency (C++11)

deprecated (C++14)

fallthrough (C++17)

nodiscard (C++17)

maybe_unused (C++17)

likelyunlikely (C++20)(C++20)

no_unique_address (C++20)

assume (C++23)

optimize_for_synchronized (TM TS)

 

If a function declared nodiscard or a function returning an enumeration or class declared nodiscard by value is called from a discarded-value expression other than a cast to void, the compiler is encouraged to issue a warning.

Syntax

[[nodiscard]]	(1)
[[nodiscard( string-literal )]]	(2)	(since C++20)

string-literal

-

text that could be used to explain the rationale for why the result should not be discarded

Explanation

Appears in a function declaration, enumeration declaration, or class declaration.

If, from a discarded-value expression other than a cast to void,

• a function declared nodiscard is called, or
• a function returning an enumeration or class declared nodiscard by value is called, or
• a constructor declared nodiscard is called by explicit type conversion or static_cast, or
• an object of an enumeration or class type declared nodiscard is initialized by explicit type conversion or static_cast,

the compiler is encouraged to issue a warning.

The string-literal, if specified, is usually included in the warnings.

(since C++20)

Example

Run this code

struct [[nodiscard]] error_info { /*...*/ };
error_info enable_missile_safety_mode() { /*...*/ return {}; }
void launch_missiles() { /*...*/ }
void test_missiles()
{
    enable_missile_safety_mode(); // compiler may warn on discarding a nodiscard value
    launch_missiles();
}
error_info& foo() { static error_info e; /*...*/ return e; }
void f1() { foo(); } // nodiscard type is not returned by value, no warning
// nodiscard( string-literal ) (since C++20):
[[nodiscard("PURE FUN")]] int strategic_value(int x, int y) { return x ^ y; }
 
int main()
{
    strategic_value(4, 2); // compiler may warn on discarding a nodiscard value
    auto z = strategic_value(0, 0); // ok: return value is not discarded
    return z;
}

Possible output:

game.cpp:5:4: warning: ignoring return value of function declared with 'nodiscard' attribute
game.cpp:17:5: warning: ignoring return value of function declared with 'nodiscard' attribute: PURE FUN

Standard library

The following standard functions are declared with nodiscard attribute:

Allocation functions
operator newoperator new[]	allocation functions (function)
allocate	allocates uninitialized storage (public member function of std::allocator<T>)
allocate [static]	allocates uninitialized storage using the allocator (public static member function of std::allocator_traits<Alloc>)
allocate	allocates memory (public member function of std::pmr::memory_resource)
allocate	allocate memory (public member function of std::pmr::polymorphic_allocator<T>)
allocate	allocates uninitialized storage using the outer allocator (public member function of std::scoped_allocator_adaptor<OuterAlloc,InnerAlloc...>)
Indirect access
launder (C++17)	pointer optimization barrier (function template)
assume_aligned (C++20)	informs the compiler that a pointer is aligned (function template)
Emptiness-checking functions
empty (C++17)	checks whether the container is empty (function template)
empty	checks whether the node handle is empty (public member function of node handle)
empty (C++11)	checks whether the container is empty (public member function of std::array<T,N>)
empty	checks whether the string is empty (public member function of std::basic_string<CharT,Traits,Allocator>)
empty (C++17)	checks whether the view is empty (public member function of std::basic_string_view<CharT,Traits>)
empty	checks whether the container is empty (public member function of std::deque<T,Allocator>)
empty (C++11)	checks whether the container is empty (public member function of std::forward_list<T,Allocator>)
empty	checks whether the container is empty (public member function of std::list<T,Allocator>)
empty	checks whether the container is empty (public member function of std::map<Key,T,Compare,Allocator>)
empty	checks whether the match was successful (public member function of std::match_results<BidirIt,Alloc>)
empty	checks whether the container is empty (public member function of std::multimap<Key,T,Compare,Allocator>)
empty	checks whether the container is empty (public member function of std::multiset<Key,Compare,Allocator>)
empty	checks whether the underlying container is empty (public member function of std::priority_queue<T,Container,Compare>)
empty	checks whether the underlying container is empty (public member function of std::queue<T,Container>)
empty	checks whether the container is empty (public member function of std::set<Key,Compare,Allocator>)
empty (C++20)	checks if the sequence is empty (public member function of std::span<T,Extent>)
empty	checks whether the underlying container is empty (public member function of std::stack<T,Container>)
empty (C++11)	checks whether the container is empty (public member function of std::unordered_map<Key,T,Hash,KeyEqual,Allocator>)
empty (C++11)	checks whether the container is empty (public member function of std::unordered_multimap<Key,T,Hash,KeyEqual,Allocator>)
empty (C++11)	checks whether the container is empty (public member function of std::unordered_multiset<Key,Hash,KeyEqual,Allocator>)
empty (C++11)	checks whether the container is empty (public member function of std::unordered_set<Key,Hash,KeyEqual,Allocator>)
empty	checks whether the container is empty (public member function of std::vector<T,Allocator>)
empty	checks if the path is empty (public member function of std::filesystem::path)
Miscellaneous
async (C++11)	runs a function asynchronously (potentially in a new thread) and returns a std::future that will hold the result (function template)

Defect reports

The following behavior-changing defect reports were applied retroactively to previously published C++ standards.

DR	Applied to	Behavior as published	Correct behavior
P1771R1	C++17	[[nodiscard]] on constructors has no effect	can cause a warning if the constructed object is discarded

See also

ignore (C++11)

placeholder to skip an element when unpacking a tuple using tie (constant)