P4307

An Infix Operator and a Keyword Escape for C++

Latest is R1R0

We propose two uses for one character: the backtick, the last printable ASCII character the language can still usefully claim. One makes any callable a binary operator; the other lets a keyword be escaped for use as an ordinary identifier. Each is independently motivated, and each is defined by rewrite into something the language already has. They are proposed together, with equal standing, because they share the token; two independent claims on one character, designed separately, end in contradiction.

Authors
Steve Downey
Mailing
2026-09
Doc date
2026-09-22
Audience
EWGSG17

Revision history

  1. 2026-10
    R1 EWG

    An Infix Operator and a Keyword Escape for C++

  2. 2026-09
    R0 Selected (shown above)