1 ==========================
2 Clang-Format Style Options
3 ==========================
5 :doc:`ClangFormatStyleOptions` describes configurable formatting style options
6 supported by :doc:`LibFormat` and :doc:`ClangFormat`.
8 When using :program:`clang-format` command line utility or
9 ``clang::format::reformat(...)`` functions from code, one can either use one of
10 the predefined styles (LLVM, Google, Chromium, Mozilla, WebKit) or create a
11 custom style by configuring specific style options.
14 Configuring Style with clang-format
15 ===================================
17 :program:`clang-format` supports two ways to provide custom style options:
18 directly specify style configuration in the ``-style=`` command line option or
19 use ``-style=file`` and put style configuration in the ``.clang-format`` or
20 ``_clang-format`` file in the project directory.
22 When using ``-style=file``, :program:`clang-format` for each input file will
23 try to find the ``.clang-format`` file located in the closest parent directory
24 of the input file. When the standard input is used, the search is started from
25 the current directory.
27 The ``.clang-format`` file uses YAML format:
36 The configuration file can consist of several sections each having different
37 ``Language:`` parameter denoting the programming language this section of the
38 configuration is targeted at. See the description of the **Language** option
39 below for the list of supported languages. The first section may have no
40 language set, it will set the default style options for all lanugages.
41 Configuration sections for specific language will override options set in the
44 When :program:`clang-format` formats a file, it auto-detects the language using
45 the file name. When formatting standard input or a file that doesn't have the
46 extension corresponding to its language, ``-assume-filename=`` option can be
47 used to override the file name :program:`clang-format` uses to detect the
50 An example of a configuration file for multiple languages:
55 # We'll use defaults from the LLVM style, but with 4 columns indentation.
60 # Force pointers to the type for C++.
61 DerivePointerAlignment: false
62 PointerAlignment: Left
65 # Use 100 columns for JS.
69 # Don't format .proto files.
73 An easy way to get a valid ``.clang-format`` file containing all configuration
74 options of a certain predefined style is:
76 .. code-block:: console
78 clang-format -style=llvm -dump-config > .clang-format
80 When specifying configuration in the ``-style=`` option, the same configuration
81 is applied for all input files. The format of the configuration is:
83 .. code-block:: console
85 -style='{key1: value1, key2: value2, ...}'
88 Disabling Formatting on a Piece of Code
89 =======================================
91 Clang-format understands also special comments that switch formatting in a
92 delimited range. The code between a comment ``// clang-format off`` or
93 ``/* clang-format off */`` up to a comment ``// clang-format on`` or
94 ``/* clang-format on */`` will not be formatted. The comments themselves
95 will be formatted (aligned) normally.
101 void unformatted_code ;
103 void formatted_code_again;
106 Configuring Style in Code
107 =========================
109 When using ``clang::format::reformat(...)`` functions, the format is specified
110 by supplying the `clang::format::FormatStyle
111 <http://clang.llvm.org/doxygen/structclang_1_1format_1_1FormatStyle.html>`_
115 Configurable Format Style Options
116 =================================
118 This section lists the supported style options. Value type is specified for
119 each option. For enumeration types possible values are specified both as a C++
120 enumeration member (with a prefix, e.g. ``LS_Auto``), and as a value usable in
121 the configuration (without a prefix: ``Auto``).
124 **BasedOnStyle** (``string``)
125 The style used for all options not specifically set in the configuration.
127 This option is supported only in the :program:`clang-format` configuration
128 (both within ``-style='{...}'`` and the ``.clang-format`` file).
133 A style complying with the `LLVM coding standards
134 <http://llvm.org/docs/CodingStandards.html>`_
136 A style complying with `Google's C++ style guide
137 <http://google-styleguide.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/cppguide.xml>`_
139 A style complying with `Chromium's style guide
140 <http://www.chromium.org/developers/coding-style>`_
142 A style complying with `Mozilla's style guide
143 <https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Developer_Guide/Coding_Style>`_
145 A style complying with `WebKit's style guide
146 <http://www.webkit.org/coding/coding-style.html>`_
148 .. START_FORMAT_STYLE_OPTIONS
150 **AccessModifierOffset** (``int``)
151 The extra indent or outdent of access modifiers, e.g. ``public:``.
153 **AlignAfterOpenBracket** (``bool``)
154 If ``true``, horizontally aligns arguments after an open bracket.
156 This applies to round brackets (parentheses), angle brackets and square
157 brackets. This will result in formattings like
159 someLongFunction(argument1,
163 **AlignEscapedNewlinesLeft** (``bool``)
164 If ``true``, aligns escaped newlines as far left as possible.
165 Otherwise puts them into the right-most column.
167 **AlignOperands** (``bool``)
168 If ``true``, horizontally align operands of binary and ternary
171 **AlignTrailingComments** (``bool``)
172 If ``true``, aligns trailing comments.
174 **AllowAllParametersOfDeclarationOnNextLine** (``bool``)
175 Allow putting all parameters of a function declaration onto
176 the next line even if ``BinPackParameters`` is ``false``.
178 **AllowShortBlocksOnASingleLine** (``bool``)
179 Allows contracting simple braced statements to a single line.
181 E.g., this allows ``if (a) { return; }`` to be put on a single line.
183 **AllowShortCaseLabelsOnASingleLine** (``bool``)
184 If ``true``, short case labels will be contracted to a single line.
186 **AllowShortFunctionsOnASingleLine** (``ShortFunctionStyle``)
187 Dependent on the value, ``int f() { return 0; }`` can be put
192 * ``SFS_None`` (in configuration: ``None``)
193 Never merge functions into a single line.
194 * ``SFS_Inline`` (in configuration: ``Inline``)
195 Only merge functions defined inside a class.
196 * ``SFS_Empty`` (in configuration: ``Empty``)
197 Only merge empty functions.
198 * ``SFS_All`` (in configuration: ``All``)
199 Merge all functions fitting on a single line.
202 **AllowShortIfStatementsOnASingleLine** (``bool``)
203 If ``true``, ``if (a) return;`` can be put on a single
206 **AllowShortLoopsOnASingleLine** (``bool``)
207 If ``true``, ``while (true) continue;`` can be put on a
210 **AlwaysBreakAfterDefinitionReturnType** (``bool``)
211 If ``true``, always break after function definition return types.
213 More truthfully called 'break before the identifier following the type
214 in a function definition'. PenaltyReturnTypeOnItsOwnLine becomes
217 **AlwaysBreakBeforeMultilineStrings** (``bool``)
218 If ``true``, always break before multiline string literals.
220 **AlwaysBreakTemplateDeclarations** (``bool``)
221 If ``true``, always break after the ``template<...>`` of a
222 template declaration.
224 **BinPackArguments** (``bool``)
225 If ``false``, a function call's arguments will either be all on the
226 same line or will have one line each.
228 **BinPackParameters** (``bool``)
229 If ``false``, a function declaration's or function definition's
230 parameters will either all be on the same line or will have one line each.
232 **BreakBeforeBinaryOperators** (``BinaryOperatorStyle``)
233 The way to wrap binary operators.
237 * ``BOS_None`` (in configuration: ``None``)
238 Break after operators.
239 * ``BOS_NonAssignment`` (in configuration: ``NonAssignment``)
240 Break before operators that aren't assignments.
241 * ``BOS_All`` (in configuration: ``All``)
242 Break before operators.
245 **BreakBeforeBraces** (``BraceBreakingStyle``)
246 The brace breaking style to use.
250 * ``BS_Attach`` (in configuration: ``Attach``)
251 Always attach braces to surrounding context.
252 * ``BS_Linux`` (in configuration: ``Linux``)
253 Like ``Attach``, but break before braces on function, namespace and
255 * ``BS_Stroustrup`` (in configuration: ``Stroustrup``)
256 Like ``Attach``, but break before function definitions, and 'else'.
257 * ``BS_Allman`` (in configuration: ``Allman``)
258 Always break before braces.
259 * ``BS_GNU`` (in configuration: ``GNU``)
260 Always break before braces and add an extra level of indentation to
261 braces of control statements, not to those of class, function
262 or other definitions.
265 **BreakBeforeTernaryOperators** (``bool``)
266 If ``true``, ternary operators will be placed after line breaks.
268 **BreakConstructorInitializersBeforeComma** (``bool``)
269 Always break constructor initializers before commas and align
270 the commas with the colon.
272 **ColumnLimit** (``unsigned``)
275 A column limit of ``0`` means that there is no column limit. In this case,
276 clang-format will respect the input's line breaking decisions within
277 statements unless they contradict other rules.
279 **CommentPragmas** (``std::string``)
280 A regular expression that describes comments with special meaning,
281 which should not be split into lines or otherwise changed.
283 **ConstructorInitializerAllOnOneLineOrOnePerLine** (``bool``)
284 If the constructor initializers don't fit on a line, put each
285 initializer on its own line.
287 **ConstructorInitializerIndentWidth** (``unsigned``)
288 The number of characters to use for indentation of constructor
291 **ContinuationIndentWidth** (``unsigned``)
292 Indent width for line continuations.
294 **Cpp11BracedListStyle** (``bool``)
295 If ``true``, format braced lists as best suited for C++11 braced
298 Important differences:
299 - No spaces inside the braced list.
300 - No line break before the closing brace.
301 - Indentation with the continuation indent, not with the block indent.
303 Fundamentally, C++11 braced lists are formatted exactly like function
304 calls would be formatted in their place. If the braced list follows a name
305 (e.g. a type or variable name), clang-format formats as if the ``{}`` were
306 the parentheses of a function call with that name. If there is no name,
307 a zero-length name is assumed.
309 **DerivePointerAlignment** (``bool``)
310 If ``true``, analyze the formatted file for the most common
311 alignment of & and \*. ``PointerAlignment`` is then used only as fallback.
313 **DisableFormat** (``bool``)
314 Disables formatting at all.
316 **ExperimentalAutoDetectBinPacking** (``bool``)
317 If ``true``, clang-format detects whether function calls and
318 definitions are formatted with one parameter per line.
320 Each call can be bin-packed, one-per-line or inconclusive. If it is
321 inconclusive, e.g. completely on one line, but a decision needs to be
322 made, clang-format analyzes whether there are other bin-packed cases in
323 the input file and act accordingly.
325 NOTE: This is an experimental flag, that might go away or be renamed. Do
326 not use this in config files, etc. Use at your own risk.
328 **ForEachMacros** (``std::vector<std::string>``)
329 A vector of macros that should be interpreted as foreach loops
330 instead of as function calls.
332 These are expected to be macros of the form:
334 FOREACH(<variable-declaration>, ...)
338 For example: BOOST_FOREACH.
340 **IndentCaseLabels** (``bool``)
341 Indent case labels one level from the switch statement.
343 When ``false``, use the same indentation level as for the switch statement.
344 Switch statement body is always indented one level more than case labels.
346 **IndentWidth** (``unsigned``)
347 The number of columns to use for indentation.
349 **IndentWrappedFunctionNames** (``bool``)
350 Indent if a function definition or declaration is wrapped after the
353 **KeepEmptyLinesAtTheStartOfBlocks** (``bool``)
354 If true, empty lines at the start of blocks are kept.
356 **Language** (``LanguageKind``)
357 Language, this format style is targeted at.
361 * ``LK_None`` (in configuration: ``None``)
363 * ``LK_Cpp`` (in configuration: ``Cpp``)
364 Should be used for C, C++, ObjectiveC, ObjectiveC++.
365 * ``LK_Java`` (in configuration: ``Java``)
366 Should be used for Java.
367 * ``LK_JavaScript`` (in configuration: ``JavaScript``)
368 Should be used for JavaScript.
369 * ``LK_Proto`` (in configuration: ``Proto``)
370 Should be used for Protocol Buffers
371 (https://developers.google.com/protocol-buffers/).
374 **MaxEmptyLinesToKeep** (``unsigned``)
375 The maximum number of consecutive empty lines to keep.
377 **NamespaceIndentation** (``NamespaceIndentationKind``)
378 The indentation used for namespaces.
382 * ``NI_None`` (in configuration: ``None``)
383 Don't indent in namespaces.
384 * ``NI_Inner`` (in configuration: ``Inner``)
385 Indent only in inner namespaces (nested in other namespaces).
386 * ``NI_All`` (in configuration: ``All``)
387 Indent in all namespaces.
390 **ObjCBlockIndentWidth** (``unsigned``)
391 The number of characters to use for indentation of ObjC blocks.
393 **ObjCSpaceAfterProperty** (``bool``)
394 Add a space after ``@property`` in Objective-C, i.e. use
395 ``\@property (readonly)`` instead of ``\@property(readonly)``.
397 **ObjCSpaceBeforeProtocolList** (``bool``)
398 Add a space in front of an Objective-C protocol list, i.e. use
399 ``Foo <Protocol>`` instead of ``Foo<Protocol>``.
401 **PenaltyBreakBeforeFirstCallParameter** (``unsigned``)
402 The penalty for breaking a function call after "call(".
404 **PenaltyBreakComment** (``unsigned``)
405 The penalty for each line break introduced inside a comment.
407 **PenaltyBreakFirstLessLess** (``unsigned``)
408 The penalty for breaking before the first ``<<``.
410 **PenaltyBreakString** (``unsigned``)
411 The penalty for each line break introduced inside a string literal.
413 **PenaltyExcessCharacter** (``unsigned``)
414 The penalty for each character outside of the column limit.
416 **PenaltyReturnTypeOnItsOwnLine** (``unsigned``)
417 Penalty for putting the return type of a function onto its own
420 **PointerAlignment** (``PointerAlignmentStyle``)
421 Pointer and reference alignment style.
425 * ``PAS_Left`` (in configuration: ``Left``)
426 Align pointer to the left.
427 * ``PAS_Right`` (in configuration: ``Right``)
428 Align pointer to the right.
429 * ``PAS_Middle`` (in configuration: ``Middle``)
430 Align pointer in the middle.
433 **SpaceAfterCStyleCast** (``bool``)
434 If ``true``, a space may be inserted after C style casts.
436 **SpaceBeforeAssignmentOperators** (``bool``)
437 If ``false``, spaces will be removed before assignment operators.
439 **SpaceBeforeParens** (``SpaceBeforeParensOptions``)
440 Defines in which cases to put a space before opening parentheses.
444 * ``SBPO_Never`` (in configuration: ``Never``)
445 Never put a space before opening parentheses.
446 * ``SBPO_ControlStatements`` (in configuration: ``ControlStatements``)
447 Put a space before opening parentheses only after control statement
448 keywords (``for/if/while...``).
449 * ``SBPO_Always`` (in configuration: ``Always``)
450 Always put a space before opening parentheses, except when it's
451 prohibited by the syntax rules (in function-like macro definitions) or
452 when determined by other style rules (after unary operators, opening
456 **SpaceInEmptyParentheses** (``bool``)
457 If ``true``, spaces may be inserted into '()'.
459 **SpacesBeforeTrailingComments** (``unsigned``)
460 The number of spaces before trailing line comments
463 This does not affect trailing block comments (``/**/`` - comments) as those
464 commonly have different usage patterns and a number of special cases.
466 **SpacesInAngles** (``bool``)
467 If ``true``, spaces will be inserted after '<' and before '>' in
468 template argument lists
470 **SpacesInCStyleCastParentheses** (``bool``)
471 If ``true``, spaces may be inserted into C style casts.
473 **SpacesInContainerLiterals** (``bool``)
474 If ``true``, spaces are inserted inside container literals (e.g.
475 ObjC and Javascript array and dict literals).
477 **SpacesInParentheses** (``bool``)
478 If ``true``, spaces will be inserted after '(' and before ')'.
480 **SpacesInSquareBrackets** (``bool``)
481 If ``true``, spaces will be inserted after '[' and before ']'.
483 **Standard** (``LanguageStandard``)
484 Format compatible with this standard, e.g. use
485 ``A<A<int> >`` instead of ``A<A<int>>`` for LS_Cpp03.
489 * ``LS_Cpp03`` (in configuration: ``Cpp03``)
490 Use C++03-compatible syntax.
491 * ``LS_Cpp11`` (in configuration: ``Cpp11``)
492 Use features of C++11 (e.g. ``A<A<int>>`` instead of
494 * ``LS_Auto`` (in configuration: ``Auto``)
495 Automatic detection based on the input.
498 **TabWidth** (``unsigned``)
499 The number of columns used for tab stops.
501 **UseTab** (``UseTabStyle``)
502 The way to use tab characters in the resulting file.
506 * ``UT_Never`` (in configuration: ``Never``)
508 * ``UT_ForIndentation`` (in configuration: ``ForIndentation``)
509 Use tabs only for indentation.
510 * ``UT_Always`` (in configuration: ``Always``)
511 Use tabs whenever we need to fill whitespace that spans at least from
512 one tab stop to the next one.
515 .. END_FORMAT_STYLE_OPTIONS
520 A style similar to the `Linux Kernel style
521 <https://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/CodingStyle>`_:
528 BreakBeforeBraces: Linux
529 AllowShortIfStatementsOnASingleLine: false
530 IndentCaseLabels: false
532 The result is (imagine that tabs are used for indentation here):
550 do_something_completely_different();
561 A style similar to the default Visual Studio formatting style:
567 BreakBeforeBraces: Allman
568 AllowShortIfStatementsOnASingleLine: false
569 IndentCaseLabels: false
591 do_somthing_completely_different();