The detailed specifications each contain the following elements:
name and brief description
synopsis (class definition or function prototype, as appropriate)
restrictions on template arguments, if any
description of class invariants
description of function semantics
Descriptions of class member functions follow the order (as appropriate):163
constructor(s) and destructor
copying, moving & assignment functions
comparison functions
modifier functions
observer functions
operators and other non-member functions
Descriptions of function semantics contain the following elements (as appropriate):164
Requires: the preconditions for calling the function
Effects: the actions performed by the function
Synchronization: the synchronization operations ([intro.multithread]) applicable to the function
Postconditions: the observable results established by the function
Returns: a description of the value(s) returned by the function
Throws: any exceptions thrown by the function, and the conditions that would cause the exception
Complexity: the time and/or space complexity of the function
Remarks: additional semantic constraints on the function
Error conditions: the error conditions for error codes reported by the function.
Notes: non-normative comments about the function
Whenever the Effects: element specifies that the semantics of some function F are Equivalent to some code sequence, then the various elements are interpreted as follows. If F's semantics specifies a Requires: element, then that requirement is logically imposed prior to the equivalent-to semantics. Next, the semantics of the code sequence are determined by the Requires:, Effects:, Postconditions:, Returns:, Throws:, Complexity:, Remarks:, Error conditions:, and Notes: specified for the function invocations contained in the code sequence. The value returned from F is specified by F's Returns: element, or if F has no Returns: element, a non-void return from F is specified by the Returns: elements in the code sequence. If F's semantics contains a Throws:, Postconditions:, or Complexity: element, then that supersedes any occurrences of that element in the code sequence.
For non-reserved replacement and handler functions, Clause [language.support] specifies two behaviors for the functions in question: their required and default behavior. The default behavior describes a function definition provided by the implementation. The required behavior describes the semantics of a function definition provided by either the implementation or a C++ program. Where no distinction is explicitly made in the description, the behavior described is the required behavior.
If the formulation of a complexity requirement calls for a negative number of operations, the actual requirement is zero operations.165
Complexity requirements specified in the library clauses are upper bounds, and implementations that provide better complexity guarantees satisfy the requirements.
Error conditions specify conditions where a function may fail. The conditions are listed, together with a suitable explanation, as the enum class errc constants ([syserr]).
To save space, items that do not apply to a class are omitted. For example, if a class does not specify any comparison functions, there will be no “Comparison functions” subclause.
To save space, items that do not apply to a function are omitted. For example, if a function does not specify any further preconditions, there will be no “Requires” paragraph.
This simplifies the presentation of complexity requirements in some cases.