c++ - try\catch block in the main() function without brackets -

visual studio 2015; c++ language.

i remember read somewhere entry point (i.e. main method) possible write this:

#include <iostream> using namespace std;  int main() try{   return 0; // here... } catch (...){   cout << "i 'catch'..." << endl; // row wasn't called!   return 1; // oops... next `f10` key pressing jumps "try"    // block row! } 

i.e. @ case try\catch block located not in brackets:

int main() { // start bracket   try{     return 0;   }   catch (...){     return 1;   } } // end bracket 

both cases compiled , work too, but... in first variant, when step step pressing f10 key after try block catch block also. second variant of code haven't such behaviour.

why happen?

your construction function-try-block , defined in drafs n4296 c++ 11 specification @ 8.4 function definitions [dcl.fct.def.general] with:

function definitions have form

• function-definition:
  • attribute-specifier-seq_opt decl-specifier-seq_opt declarator virt-specifier-seq_opt function-body
• function-body:
  • ctor-initializer_opt compound-statement
  • function-try-block
  • = default ;
  • = delete ;

and later in 15 exception handling [except] with:

function-try-block:

• try ctor-initializer_opt compound-statement handler-seq

examples suggest normal usage function-try-block should ctor, valid normal function (and main syntactically mere function)

it valid , works normally, meaning catch block evaluated if exception occurs in ctor-initializer_opt on in compound-statement. can confirm in code adding prints in blocks or testing return value.

in unix system

foo echo $? 

should echo 0

in windows system under cmd.exe windows

foo.exe if errorlevel 1 echo "catch block" 

should not output catch block

if debugger lets execute instructions in catch block... not c++ 11 conformant!

but known when exiting block, msvc debugger puts cursor on last line of block, assume is happening here because last line of function-try-block is last line of catch.