# std::underlying_type

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< cpp‎ | types

Defined in header `<type_traits>` |  |
template< class T > struct underlying_type; |  | (since C++11)

If `T` is a complete enumeration (enum) type, provides a member typedef `type` that names the underlying type of `T`.

Otherwise, the behavior is undefined. | (until C++20)
Otherwise, if `T` is not an enumeration type, there is no member `type`. Otherwise (`T` is an incomplete enumeration type), the program is ill-formed. | (since C++20)

If the program adds specializations for `std::underlying_type`, the behavior is undefined.

### Member types

Name | Definition
`type` | the underlying type of `T`

### Helper types

template< class T > using underlying_type_t = typename underlying_type<T>::type; |  | (since C++14)

### Notes

Each enumeration type has an underlying type, which can be

1. Specified explicitly (both scoped and unscoped enumerations);
2. Omitted, in which case it is int for scoped enumerations or an implementation-defined integral type capable of representing all values of the enum (for unscoped enumerations).

### Example

Run this code

    #include <iostream>
    #include <type_traits>

    enum e1 {};
    enum class e2 {};
    enum class e3 : unsigned {};
    enum class e4 : int {};

    int main()
    {
        constexpr bool e1_t = std::is_same_v<std::underlying_type_t<e1>, int>;
        constexpr bool e2_t = std::is_same_v<std::underlying_type_t<e2>, int>;
        constexpr bool e3_t = std::is_same_v<std::underlying_type_t<e3>, int>;
        constexpr bool e4_t = std::is_same_v<std::underlying_type_t<e4>, int>;

        std::cout
            << "underlying type for 'e1' is " << (e1_t ? "int" : "non-int") << '\n'
            << "underlying type for 'e2' is " << (e2_t ? "int" : "non-int") << '\n'
            << "underlying type for 'e3' is " << (e3_t ? "int" : "non-int") << '\n'
            << "underlying type for 'e4' is " << (e4_t ? "int" : "non-int") << '\n';
    }

Possible output:

    underlying type for 'e1' is non-int
    underlying type for 'e2' is int
    underlying type for 'e3' is non-int
    underlying type for 'e4' is int

### Defect reports

The following behavior-changing defect reports were applied retroactively to previously published C++ standards.

DR | Applied to | Behavior as published | Correct behavior
--- | --- | --- | ---
LWG 2396 | C++11 | incomplete enumeration types were allowed | complete enumeration type required

### See also

is_enum (C++11) | checks if a type is an enumeration type (class template)
is_scoped_enum (C++23) | checks if a type is a scoped enumeration type (class template)
to_underlying (C++23) | converts an enumeration to its underlying type (function template)

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