What is std::optional in C++17?

What is std::optional in C++17?

std::optional is a feature in C++17 that allows you to represent optional values, meaning a value that may or may not be present.

How does std::optional differ from using pointers?

Unlike pointers, std::optional provides a safer way to handle optional values without the risk of dangling pointers or null dereferencing.

Can you give me an example of using std::optional?

Sure! Here's a simple example: std::optional<int> findValue(int key) { ... } returns an optional integer that may or may not contain a value.

What about std::variant? How is it different?

std::variant is a type-safe union that can hold one of several types, unlike std::optional which holds a single type or nothing.