noexcept specifier (since C++11)

Specifies whether a function could throw exceptions.

# Notes

One of the uses of the constant expression is (along with the noexcept operator) to define function templates that declare noexcept for some types but not others.

Note that a noexcept specification on a function is not a compile-time check; it is merely a method for a programmer to inform the compiler whether or not a function should throw exceptions. The compiler can use this information to enable certain optimizations on non-throwing functions as well as enable the noexcept operator, which can check at compile time if a particular expression is declared to throw any exceptions. For example, containers such as std::vector will move their elements if the elements’ move constructor is noexcept, and copy otherwise (unless the copy constructor is not accessible, but a potentially throwing move constructor is, in which case the strong exception guarantee is waived).

noexcept is an improved version of throw(), which is deprecated in C++11. Unlike pre-C++17 throw(), noexcept will not call std::unexpected, may or may not unwind the stack, and will call std::terminate, which potentially allows the compiler to implement noexcept without the runtime overhead of throw(). As of C++17, throw() is redefined to be an exact equivalent of noexcept(true).

# Example

// whether foo is declared noexcept depends on if the expression
// T() will throw any exceptions
template<class T>
void foo() noexcept(noexcept(T())) {}
 
void bar() noexcept(true) {}
void baz() noexcept { throw 42; } // noexcept is the same as noexcept(true)
 
int main() 
{
    foo<int>(); // noexcept(noexcept(int())) => noexcept(true), so this is fine
 
    bar(); // fine
    baz(); // compiles, but at runtime this calls std::terminate
}

# Defect reports

# See also

• noexcept operator
• Dynamic exception specification
• throw expression
• move_if_noexcept