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### 3251. Are `std::format` alignment specifiers applied to string arguments?

Section: 22.14.2 [format.string] Status: C++20 Submitter: Richard Smith Opened: 2019-08-02 Last modified: 2021-02-25

Priority: 2

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Discussion:

We are told:

> Formatting of objects of arithmetic types and `const void*` is done as if by calling `to_chars` (unless otherwise specified) and copying the output through the output iterator of the format context with additional padding and adjustments as specified by the format specifiers.

… but there is no corresponding rule for strings. Is an alignment specifier intended to be applied to strings or not? The wording as-is is ambiguous.

(The above also doesn't cover formatting `void*` or `std::nullptr_t`. Presumably at least those two should have the relevant adjustments applied to them!)

The wording never actually anywhere says that the `basic_format_args` are in any way involved in the formatting process, or how formatting actually happens. (The wording doesn't say that `basic_format_arg::handle::format` is ever called, for example.)

Victor Zverovich:

An alignment specifier is intended to be applied to strings as well, `void*` and `std::nullptr_t` are converted into `const void*` when constructing `basic_format_arg`.

The wording for `vformat` and similar functions says that `basic_format_args` is involved:

> Returns: A string object holding the character representation of formatting arguments provided by `args` formatted according to specifications given in `fmt`.

but I admit that it is hand-wavy. Perhaps we could add something along the lines of

> For each replacement field referring to the argument with index `(arg-id) i`, the `basic_format_arg` object referring to the argument is obtained via `args.get(i)` and the `parse` and `format` functions of the `formatter` specialization for the underlying argument type are called to parse the format specification and format the value.

to clarify how we format `args` (`basic_format_args`).

[2019-08-21 Priority set to 2 based on reflector discussion]

[2019-08-21; Victor Zverovich suggests wording]

[2020-02 Status to Immediate on Thursday night in Prague.]

Proposed resolution:

This wording is relative to N4830.

1. Modify 22.14.2.2 [format.string.std] as indicated:

   > -3- The align specifier applies to all argument types. The meaning of the various alignment options is as specified in Table [tab:format.align]. [Example: […