Why Does `std::is_class` Return True for Structs in C ?

The Distinguishment Between Structs and Classes in C

In C , many have noticed that the type trait std::is_class returns true for both classes and structs. This prompts the question of why there is no clear distinction between the two in this trait. It is generally assumed that in C classes and structs are virtually identical, but is that truly the case?

Contrary to popular belief, C has not supported structs since 1985. Every type declared using either the class or struct keyword is fundamentally a class. The struct keyword, along with the unique visibility rules applied to such class declarations, was preserved solely for backward compatibility with C.

Hence, the reason C does not distinguish between classes and structs in std::is_class is because there is no inherent difference between them. From the language's perspective, all types defined using both keywords are uniformly recognized as classes.

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