# Microsoft C++ Standard Library

> C++ Standard Library

**Wikidata**: [Q104046530](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q104046530)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/microsoft-c-standard-library

## Summary
The Microsoft C++ Standard Library is Microsoft’s implementation of the C++ Standard Library (often called "STL"). It is released as free software under the Apache License 2.0, with source code hosted at https://github.com/microsoft/STL and multiple stable releases published in 2024.

## Key Facts
- The Microsoft C++ Standard Library is an implementation of the C++ Standard Library (alias: STL).
- The project is developed by Microsoft (company inception: 1975-04-04; headquarters: Redmond, United States).
- The library is licensed under the Apache Software License 2.0 (license reference date: 2020-12-09).
- Source code repository: https://github.com/microsoft/STL.
- Listed stable releases include versions 16.5, 16.6, 16.7, 16.8, 16.9, 16.10, 17.0, 17.1, 17.2 and 17.3 (release qualifiers indicate stable versions with publication date 2024-03-09).
- The project is classified as instance_of: C++ Standard Library and free software.
- Programming language used: C++ (Wikidata value Q2407).
- Copyright status of the project is listed as: copyrighted.

## FAQs
### Q: What license does the Microsoft C++ Standard Library use?
A: The Microsoft C++ Standard Library is licensed under the Apache Software License 2.0.

### Q: Where can I find the source code for the Microsoft C++ Standard Library?
A: The source code is hosted on GitHub at https://github.com/microsoft/STL.

### Q: Who develops and maintains the Microsoft C++ Standard Library?
A: The library is developed by Microsoft.

### Q: Which stable versions were published for the project in the cited records?
A: Stable versions listed include 16.5–16.10 and 17.0–17.3, with release entries dated 2024-03-09.

## Why It Matters
The Microsoft C++ Standard Library provides an implementation of the standardized C++ library components under an open-source license, making those components available for inspection, modification, and redistribution under Apache License 2.0. Hosting the project on GitHub centralizes its source code, versioned releases, and issue/bug tracking, which facilitates collaboration and transparency. The availability of documented stable releases (multiple 16.x and 17.x versions) shows active maintenance and versioning. As an implementation produced by Microsoft, the project ties a major commercial developer to an open-source distribution of standard C++ facilities, enabling developers and organizations to use, adapt, and distribute that implementation under permissive terms. The project’s classification as free software and its explicit repository and licensing information make it straightforward for developers to evaluate, adopt, or contribute to the implementation.

## Notable For
- Alias "STL": commonly referred to as STL (Standard Template Library) in C++ communities.
- Apache 2.0 licensing: permissive open-source license (Apache Software License 2.0).
- Public GitHub repository: source and releases are available at https://github.com/microsoft/STL.
- Multiple documented stable releases: includes version series 16.5–16.10 and 17.0–17.3 with release metadata.
- Developed by Microsoft: the library is an implementation maintained by Microsoft, a major technology corporation.

## Body
### Overview
- Name: Microsoft C++ Standard Library.
- Short alias: STL.
- Function: Implementation of the C++ Standard Library.

### Licensing and Repository
- License: Apache Software License 2.0 (license entry referenced 2020-12-09).
- Source code repository URL: https://github.com/microsoft/STL.
- Repository metadata references include GitHub project pages and release tags.

### Versions and Releases
- Recorded stable versions and release qualifiers (publication date shown as 2024-03-09):
  - 16.5 (release tag reference: vs-2019-16.5)
  - 16.6 (release tag reference: vs-2019-16.6)
  - 16.7 (release tag reference: vs-2019-16.7)
  - 16.8 (release tag reference: vs-2019-16.8)
  - 16.9 (release tag reference: vs-2019-16.9)
  - 16.10 (release tag reference: vs-2019-16.10)
  - 17.0 (release tag reference: vs-2022-17.0)
  - 17.1 (release tag reference: vs-2022-17.1)
  - 17.2 (release tag reference: vs-2022-17.2)
  - 17.3 (release tag reference: vs-2022-17.3)

### Development and Developer
- Developer: Microsoft.
- Microsoft metadata (provided): inception date 1975-04-04; headquarters in Redmond, United States; company-related references included in source material.

### Classification and Technical Details
- Instance_of: C++ Standard Library and free software.
- Programming language: C++ (Wikidata Q2407 referenced).
- Copyright status: copyrighted.

### References (as provided in source material)
- Repository and license: https://github.com/microsoft/STL (license referenced 2020-12-09).
- Release tags and release references for listed versions: GitHub release tags (vs-2019-16.5 through vs-2019-16.10 and vs-2022-17.0 through vs-2022-17.3) with publication date qualifiers (2024-03-09).
- Developer information: Microsoft company metadata included in source material.

## References

1. [Source](https://github.com/microsoft/STL#license)
2. [Source](https://api.github.com/repos/microsoft/STL)
3. [Release 16.5. 2024](https://github.com/microsoft/STL/releases/tag/vs-2019-16.5)
4. [Release 16.6. 2024](https://github.com/microsoft/STL/releases/tag/vs-2019-16.6)
5. [Release 16.7. 2024](https://github.com/microsoft/STL/releases/tag/vs-2019-16.7)
6. [Release 16.8. 2024](https://github.com/microsoft/STL/releases/tag/vs-2019-16.8)
7. [Release 16.9. 2024](https://github.com/microsoft/STL/releases/tag/vs-2019-16.9)
8. [Release 16.10. 2024](https://github.com/microsoft/STL/releases/tag/vs-2019-16.10)
9. [Release 17.0. 2024](https://github.com/microsoft/STL/releases/tag/vs-2022-17.0)
10. [Release 17.1. 2024](https://github.com/microsoft/STL/releases/tag/vs-2022-17.1)
11. [Release 17.2. 2024](https://github.com/microsoft/STL/releases/tag/vs-2022-17.2)
12. [Release 17.3. 2024](https://github.com/microsoft/STL/releases/tag/vs-2022-17.3)
13. [Release 17.4. 2024](https://github.com/microsoft/STL/releases/tag/vs-2022-17.4)
14. [Release 17.5. 2024](https://github.com/microsoft/STL/releases/tag/vs-2022-17.5)
15. [Release 17.6. 2024](https://github.com/microsoft/STL/releases/tag/vs-2022-17.6)
16. [Release 17.7. 2024](https://github.com/microsoft/STL/releases/tag/vs-2022-17.7)
17. [Release 17.8. 2024](https://github.com/microsoft/STL/releases/tag/vs-2022-17.8)
18. [Release 17.9. 2024](https://github.com/microsoft/STL/releases/tag/vs-2022-17.9)
19. [Release 17.10. 2024](https://github.com/microsoft/STL/releases/tag/vs-2022-17.10)
20. [Release 17.11. 2024](https://github.com/microsoft/STL/releases/tag/vs-2022-17.11)
21. [Release 17.12. 2024](https://github.com/microsoft/STL/releases/tag/vs-2022-17.12)
22. [Release 17.13. 2025](https://github.com/microsoft/STL/releases/tag/vs-2022-17.13)
23. [Release 17.14. 2025](https://github.com/microsoft/STL/releases/tag/vs-2022-17.14)
24. [Release 14.50. 2025](https://github.com/microsoft/STL/releases/tag/msvc-build-tools-14.50)