When should I use std::any

Question

Since C++17 std::any is introduced. One can now write code like this

#include 
#include 
#include 

int         


        

Answer 1

When to Use
void* as an extremely unsafe pattern with some limited use cases, std::any adds type-safety, and that’s why it has some real use cases.

Some possibilities:

• In Libraries - when a library type has to hold or pass anything without knowing the set of available types.
  
• Parsing files - if you really cannot specify what are the supported types.
  
• Message passing.
  
• Bindings with a scripting language.
  
• Implementing an interpreter for a scripting language
  
• User Interface - controls might hold anything
  
• Entities in an editor
  (ref)