bf(C++) offers many facilities to identify and modifiy characteristics of
types. Before using these facilities the tthi(type_traits) header file must be
included.

All facilities offered by tt(type_traits) are defined in the tt(std)
namespace (omitted from the examples given below), allowing programmers to
determine various characteristics of types and values.

In the description of available type traits the following concepts are
encountered: 
    itemization(
    it() emi(arithmetic type):
       any integral or floating point type;

    it() emi(class type):
       not a union type, without non-static data members, without virtual
        members, without virtual or non-empty base classes;

    it() emi(compound type):
      itemization(
       it() arrays of objects of a given type;
       it() functions, which have parameters of a given type returning
        tt(void) or objects;
       it() pointers to tt(void), to objects, to functions, or to 
        non-static class members;
       it() references to objects or functions;
       it() class, union or enumeration types;
       )

    it() emi(fundamental type):
       a built-in type;

    it() emi(integral type):
       all types whose values represent integral numbers, as well as tt(bool)
        and all built-in types representing (possibly unicode) characters;

    it() emi(literal type):
       a literal type is a scalar type; a trivial class type; or an array of
        literal type elements;

    it() emi(is_nothrow_... type trait):
       a type trait to determine whether its template argument supports the
        specified non-throwing member. Such type traits return tt(false)
        unless tt(noexcept(true)) is used at the function's declaration. E.g.,
       verb(    struct NoThrow
    {
        NoThrow &operator=(SomeType const &rhs) noexept(true);
    };)

it() emi(trivial type):
       trivial types are scalar types, trivial class types, arrays of such
        types and cv-qualified versions of these types;

    it() emi(trivial class type): 
       a class type having a trivial copy constructor, no non-trivial move
        constructor, a trivial destructor, a trivial default constructor or at
        least one tt(constexpr) constructor other than the copy or move
        constructor, and only has non-static data members and base classes of
        literal types; 

    it() emi(trivial member function): 
       trivial member functions are never declared (other than tt(default)) in
        their class interfaces and (for default constructors or assignment
        operators) only perform byte-by-byte actions. Here are two examples:
        tt(struct Pod) only has trivial members as it doesn't explicitly
        declare any member function and its data member is em(plain old
        data). tt(struct Nonpod) is em(not) plain old data. Although it
        doesn't explictly declare any member function either, its data member
        is a tt(std::string), which itself isn't plain old data as
        tt(std::string) has non-trivial constructors:
       verb(    struct Pod
    {
        int x;
    };

    struct Nonpod
    {
        std::string s;
    };)

)

When em(type-condition) applies to a type, it must be a complete type,
tt(void), or an array of unknown size;

    The following type traits are provided:
    itemization(
    itt(add_const<typename Type>::type)
       hi(add_const) to add tt(const) to tt(Type);

    itt(add_cv<typename Type>::type)
       hi(add_cv) to add tt(const volatile) to tt(Type);

    itt(add_lvalue_reference<typename Type>::type)
       hi(add_lvalue_reference) to add an lvalue reference to tt(Type);

    itt(add_pointer<typename Type>::type)
       hi(add_pointer) to add a pointer to tt(Type);

    itt(add_rvalue_reference<typename Type>::type)
       hi(add_rvalue_reference) to add an rvalue reference to tt(Type);

    itt(add_volatile<typename Type>::type)
       hi(add_volatile) to add tt(volatile) to tt(Type);

    itt(conditional<bool cond, typename TrueType, typename FalseType>::type)
       hi(conditional) to conditionally use tt(TrueType) if tt(cond) is true,
        tt(FalseType) if not;

    itt(template <typename Type> struct decay)
       hi(decay) defines the typename tt(type) obtained from tt(Type) after
        removing all cv-qualifiers and references from the specified template
        type argument. Moreover, it converts lvalue types to rvalue types,
        and arrays and functions to pointers. It resembles what happens if an
        argument is passed to a value-type parameter.

    itt(template <typename Type> decay_t)
       hi(decay_t) is shorthand for tt(typename decay<Type>::type).

    itt(enable_if<bool cond, typename Type>::type)
       hi(enable_if) to conditionally define tt(Type) if tt(cond) is true;

COMMENT(
    use is_ variants instead
    ========================

    commented: itt(has_nothrow_assign<typename Type>::value)
       hi(has_nothrow_assign) to determine whether tt(Type) has an assignment
        operator not throwing exceptions;

    commented: itt(has_nothrow_copy_constructor<typename Type>::value)
       hi(has_nothrow_copy_constructor) to determine whether tt(Type) has a
        copy constructor not throwing exceptions;

    commented: itt(has_nothrow_default_constructor<typename Type>::value)
       hi(has_nothrow_default_constructor) to determine whether tt(Type) has a
        constructor not throwing exceptions;

    commented: itt(has_nothrow_destructor<typename Type>::value)
       hi(has_nothrow_destructor) to determine whether tt(Type) has a
        destructor not throwing exceptions;

    commented: itt(has_trivial_assign<typename Type>::value)
       hi(has_trivial_assign) to determine whether tt(Type) has a trivial
        assignment operator;

    commented: itt(has_trivial_copy_constructor<typename Type>::value)
       hi(has_trivial_copy_constructor) to determine whether tt(Type) has a
        trivial copy constructor;

    commented: itt(has_trivial_default_constructor<typename Type>::value)
       hi(has_trivial_copy_constructor) to determine whether tt(Type) has a
        trivial default constructor;

    commented: itt(has_trivial_destructor<typename Type>::value)
       hi(has_trivial_destructor) to determine whether tt(Type) has a trivial
        destructor;

    commented: itt(has_virtual_destructor<typename Type>::value)
       hi(has_virtual_destructor) to determine whether tt(Type) has a virtual
        destructor;

===========================
END COMMENT)

    itt(is_abstract<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_abstract) to determine whether tt(Type) is an abstract type
        (e.g., an abstract base class) (em(type-condition) applies);

    itt(is_arithmetic<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_arithmetic) to determine whether tt(Type) is an arithmetic type;

    itt(is_array<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_array) to determine whether tt(Type) is an array type;

    itt(is_assignable<typename To, typename From>::value)
       hi(is_assignable) to determine whether an object of type tt(From) can
        be assigned to an object of type tt(To) (em(type-condition) applies);

    itt(is_base_of<typename Base, typename Derived>::value)
       hi(is_base_of) to determine whether tt(Base) is a base class
        of type tt(Derived);

    itt(is_class<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_class) to determine whether tt(Type) is a class type;

    itt(is_compound<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_compound) to determine whether tt(Type) is a compound type;

    itt(is_const<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_const) to determine whether tt(Type) is a const type;

    itt(is_constructible<typename Type, typename ...Args>::value)
       hi(is_constructible) to determine whether tt(Type) is constructible
        from arguments in the tt(Args) parameter pack (em(type-condition)
        applies to all types in tt(Args));

    itt(is_convertible<typename From, typename To>::value)
       hi(is_convertible) to determine whether a type tt(From) may be
        converted to a type tt(To) using a tt(static_cast);

    itt(is_copy_assignable<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_copy_assignable) to determine whether tt(Type) supports copy
        assignment (em(type-condition) applies);

    itt(is_copy_constructible<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_copy_constructible) to determine whether tt(Type) supports copy
        construction (em(type-condition) applies);

    itt(is_default_constructible<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_default_constructible) to determine whether tt(Type) supports a
        default constructor (em(type-condition) applies);

    itt(is_destructible<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_destructible) to determine whether tt(Type) has a non-deleted
        destructor (em(type-condition) applies);

    itt(is_empty<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_empty) to determine whether tt(Type) is a class type (not a union
        type), without non-static data members, virtual members, virtual or
        non-empty base classes (em(type-condition) applies);

    itt(is_enum<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_enum) to determine whether tt(Type) is an enum type;

    itt(is_floating_point<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_floating_point) to determine whether tt(Type) is a floating point
        type;

    itt(is_function<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_function) to determine whether tt(Type) is a function type;

    itt(is_fundamental<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_fundamental) to determine whether tt(Type) is a fundamental type;

    itt(is_integral<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_integral) to determine whether tt(Type) is an integral type;

    itt(is_literal_type<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_literal_type) to determine whether tt(Type) is a literal type
        (em(type-condition) applies);

    itt(is_lvalue_reference<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_lvalue_reference) to determine whether tt(Type) is an lvalue
        reference;

    itt(is_member_function_pointer<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_member_function_pointer) to determine whether tt(Type) is a
        pointer to a non-static member function;

    itt(is_member_object_pointer<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_member_object_pointer) to determine whether tt(Type) is a pointer
        to a non-static data member;

    itt(is_member_pointer<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_member_pointer) to determine whether tt(Type) is a pointer to a
        member function;

    itt(is_move_assignable<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_move_assignable) to determine whether tt(Type) supports move
        assignment (em(type-condition) applies);

    itt(is_move_constructible<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_move_constructible) to determine whether tt(Type) supports move
        construction (em(type-condition) applies);

    itt(is_nothrow_assignable<typename To, typename From>::value)
       hi(is_nothrow_assignable) to determine whether tt(Type) supports an
        assignment operator not throwing exceptions (em(type-condition)
        applies).

    itt(is_nothrow_constructible<typename Type, typename ...Args>::value)
       hi(is_nothrow_constructible) to determine whether a tt(Type) object can
        be constructed from arguments of types mentioned in the parameter pack
        not throwing exceptions (em(type-condition) applies);

    itt(is_nothrow_copy_assignable<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_nothrow_constructible) to determine whether tt(Type) supports a
        copy-assignment operator not throwing exceptions (em(type-condition)
        applies);

    itt(is_nothrow_copy_constructible<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_nothrow_copy_constructible) to determine whether tt(Type)
        supports copy construction not throwing exceptions (em(type-condition)
        applies);

    itt(is_nothrow_default_constructible<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_nothrow_default_constructible) to determine whether tt(Type)
        supports a default constructor not throwing exceptions
        (em(type-condition) applies);

    itt(is_nothrow_destructible<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_nothrow_destructible) to determine whether tt(Type) supports a
        destructor not throwing exceptions (em(type-condition) applies).

    itt(is_nothrow_move_assignable<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_nothrow_move_assignable) to determine whether tt(Type) supports
        move assignment not throwing exceptions (em(type-condition) applies);

    itt(is_nothrow_move_constructible<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_nothrow_move_constructible) to determine whether tt(Type)
        supports a move constructor not throwing exceptions
        (em(type-condition) applies);

    itt(is_object<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_object) to determine whether tt(Type) is an object (in contrast
        to scalar) type;

    itt(is_pod<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_pod) to determine whether tt(Type) is an emi(aggregate) 
            (emi(plain old data),
        em(type-condition) applies);

    itt(is_pointer<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_pointer) to determine whether tt(Type) is a pointer type;

    itt(is_polymorphic<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_polymorphic) to determine whether tt(Type) is a polymorphic type
        (em(type-condition) applies);

    itt(is_reference<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_reference) to determine whether tt(Type) is an (lvalue or rvalue)
        reference;

    itt(is_rvalue_reference<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_rvalue_reference) to determine whether tt(Type) is an rvalue
        reference;

    itt(is_same<typename First, typename Second>::value)
       hi(is_same) to determine whether types tt(First) and tt(Second) are
        identical;

    itt(is_scalar<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_scalar) to determine whether tt(Type) is a scalar type (in
        contrast to an object type);

    itt(is_signed<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_signed) to determine whether tt(Type) is a signed type;

    itt(is_standard_layout<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_standard_layout) to determine whether tt(Type) offers the
        standard layout (em(type-condition) applies);

    itt(is_trivial<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_trivial) to determine whether tt(Type) is a trivial type
        (em(type-condition) applies);

    itt(is_trivially_assignable<typename Dest, typename Src>::value)
       hi(is_trivially_assignable) to determine whether an object or value of
        type tt(Src) can trivially be assigned to an object of type tt(Dest)
        (em(type-condition) applies);

    itt(is_trivially_constructible<typename Type, typename ...Args>::value)
       hi(is_trivially_constructible) to determine whether tt(Type) is
        trivially constructible from arguments in the tt(Args) parameter pack
        (em(type-condition) applies to all types in tt(Args));

    itt(is_trivially_copy_assignable<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_trivially_copy_assignable) to determine whether tt(Type) supports
        a trivial assignment operator (em(type-condition) applies);

    itt(is_trivially_copy_constructible<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_trivially_copy_constructible) to determine whether tt(Type) is
        trivially copy-constructible (em(type-condition) applies);

    itt(is_trivially_copyable<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_trivially_copyable) to determine whether tt(Type) is trivially
        copyable (em(type-condition) applies);

    itt(is_trivially_default_constructible<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_trivially_default_constructible) to determine whether tt(Type)
        supports a trivial default constructor (em(type-condition) applies);

    itt(is_trivially_default_destructible<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_trivially_default_destructible) to determine whether tt(Type)
        supports a trivial default destructor (em(type-condition) applies);

    itt(is_trivially_move_assignable<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_trivially_move_assignable) to determine whether tt(Type) supports
        a trivial assignment operator (em(type-condition) applies);

    itt(is_trivially_move_constructible<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_trivially_move_constructible) to determine whether tt(Type) is
        trivially move-constructible (em(type-condition) applies);

    itt(is_union<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_union) to determine whether tt(Type) is a union type;

    itt(is_unsigned<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_unsigned) to determine whether tt(Type) is an unsigned type;

    itt(is_void<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_void) to determine whether tt(Type) is tt(void);

    itt(is_volatile<typename Type>::value)
       hi(is_volatile) to determine whether tt(Type) is a tt(volatile)
        qualified type;

    itt(make_signed<typename Type>::type)
       hi(make_signed) to construct a signed type;

    itt(make_unsigned<typename Type>::type)
       hi(make_unsigned) to construct an unsigned type;

    itt(remove_all_extents<typename Type>::type)
       hi(remove_all_extents) if tt(Type) is a (possibly multidimensional)
        array of tt(ElementType) values or objects then tt(typedef type)
        equals tt(ElementType);

    itt(remove_const<typename Type>::type)
       hi(remove_const) to remove tt(const) from tt(Type);

    itt(remove_cv<typename Type>::type)
       hi(remove_cv) to remove tt(const) and/or tt(volatile) from tt(Type);

    itt(remove_extent<typename Type>::type)
       hi(remove_extent) if tt(Type) is an array of tt(ElementType) values or
        objects then tt(typedef type) equals tt(ElementType). With
        multi-dimensional arrays tt(ElementType) is the type of the array from
        which its first array dimension has been removed;

    itt(remove_pointer<typename Type>::type)
       hi(remove_pointer) to remove a pointer from tt(Type);

    itt(remove_reference<typename Type>::type)
       hi(remove_reference) to remove a reference from tt(Type);

    itt(remove_volatile<typename Type>::type)
       hi(remove_volatile) to remove tt(volatile) from tt(Type);

    )