What is the official name of C++'s arrow (->) operator? What is the official name of C++'s arrow (->) operator? c c

What is the official name of C++'s arrow (->) operator?


The C++ standard just calls it "arrow" (ยง5.2.5).


Bjarne Stroustrup calls it the "structure pointer dereference" operator (TC++PL Special Edition, p. 102). In the index he refers to it as the "member access" operator.

Not sure if this is "official" but the guy did write the language, after all.


The official name for this operator is class member access operator (see 5.2.5). Although this name is attached to both . and -> operators, meaning that it's more of a group name. The . is also referred to as dot operator and -> as arrow operator in the standard text.

Added later: The above applies to C++ standard. C standard refers to -> as arrow operator in the Index only. The main text of the document doesn't seem to use any specific name.