Should we use C functions in std namespace?

Question

I noticed that some C++ textbooks use C functions like printf as std::printf (include via <cstdio> rather than <stdio.h>).

However, in most C++ codes I saw in Github (including those written by professional developers), they just use <stdio.h> and printf. No sane programmer will name his function as printf or any famous C-function names anyway as other readers will likely to get confused.

It looks like there is no real benefit of using std::printf other than having to type more characters.

if `printf()` is defined in some other library, including your own, `std::` will indicate you are using the one from `cstdio`: — SegFault, Sep 23 '16 at 00:01
I believe this post might explain things a little. http://stackoverflow.com/questions/10460250/cstdio-stdio-h-namespace — soundslikeodd, Sep 23 '16 at 00:04
The C++ standard library (which includes large parts of the C standard library) lives in namespace `std`. — Kerrek SB, Sep 23 '16 at 00:39

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Sep 23 '16 at 00:02

0

Namespacing in C++ allows for you to define functions that would clash with C functions. Including cstdio instead of stdio.h and using std::printf allows you for having a function called, say rename without having it clash with stdio's rename. That's what namespaces are for, actually.

answered Sep 23 '16 at 00:02

Luís Guilherme

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Except all names from the C standard library are reserved in the global namespace. – aschepler Sep 23 '16 at 00:08

Should we use C functions in std namespace?

1 Answers1