17 Library introduction [library]

17.5 Library-wide requirements [requirements]

17.5.5 Conforming implementations [conforming]

17.5.5.11 Derived classes [derivation]

An implementation may derive any class in the C++ standard library from a class with a name reserved to the implementation.

Certain classes defined in the C++ standard library are required to be derived from other classes in the C++ standard library. An implementation may derive such a class directly from the required base or indirectly through a hierarchy of base classes with names reserved to the implementation.

In any case:

  • Every base class described as virtual shall be virtual;

  • Every base class described as non-virtual shall not be virtual;

  • Unless explicitly stated otherwise, types with distinct names shall be distinct types.183

All types specified in the C++ standard library shall be non-final types unless otherwise specified.

There is an implicit exception to this rule for types that are described as synonyms for basic integral types, such as size_t ([support.types]) and streamoff ([stream.types]).