What is "L" in C++

[SameerThigale]

Like we place L"string" in some cases
What type of token is this L?

[guestgulkan]

To specify a string literal of type wide-character , precede the opening double quotation mark with the character L.

[anonymous23323124]

I've always wondered, is that defined in a Windows header, or does the compiler recognise it intrinsically?

[Athar]

Wide strings are part of the C++ standard.

[anonymous23323124]

Okay then, so is it in a standard header file or recognised by the compiler? I had always assumed the former, but intellisense doesn't list it in my experience.

[Athar]

Nah, it's not defined in any header. The L just marks the literal as a wide literal, similar to how the f in 1.0f denotes a float literal.

[anonymous23323124]

Ah, that makes sense. Thanks :)