Appendix D: Locales

Among many other things, The C++ Programming Language (3rd Edition) describes how to change locales and how to imbue streams with locales. However, early printings did not explain how to construct locales, how locales work, how a programmer can construct new locales, or what specific locale facilities the standard library offers. I considered that expert-only material that would only confuse most programmers. I also didn't like to flirt with the 1,000 page count.

However, I (Bjarne Stroustrup) have had many requests for more information about standard library locales. Consequently, I have written a longish (64 page) tutorial description of locales and their use. This description has the form of an appendix to my 3rd edition and is intended to be sufficiently complete to guide programmers to do nontrivial work using locales. It is now "Appendix D" of The C++ Programming Language (special Edition) and recent printings of "The C++ Programming Language (3rd Edition)". For readers of early printings of my 3rd edition, I post it to the web: Appendix D: Locales

Thanks to people who have sent me comments, including: Joachim Achtzehnter, Valentin Bonnard, Sergey P. Derevyago, ? DeRobertis, Mogens Hansen, Nico Josuttis, Andrew Koenig, Dietmar Kuehl, Jonathan Leffler, Alfred Minarik, Angel Moreda, Nathan Myers, Jerre Parker, and Michel Vanaken.

Please note that I still consider this detailed description of locales beyond the needs of most C++ programmers. It is written with experienced programmers in mind and novices will do best to avoid it. Even experienced C++ programmers will find parts of this appendix hard to read.

- Bjarne