clang-format

Format file and output to stdout

$ clang-format [file.cpp]

$ clang-format -i [file.cpp]

$ clang-format --style=[Google] [file.cpp]

$ clang-format --style=file [file.cpp]

$ echo "int main(){}" | clang-format

$ clang-format --style=[LLVM] --dump-config > [.clang-format]

$ clang-format --lines=[10:20] [file.cpp]

$ clang-format --dry-run --Werror [file.cpp]

clang-format [options] [file...]

clang-format is an automatic code formatting tool for C, C++, Java, JavaScript, JSON, Objective-C, Protobuf, and C# source files. It is part of the LLVM/Clang project and formats code according to configurable style rules.
The tool ships with several predefined styles (LLVM, Google, Chromium, Mozilla, WebKit, Microsoft, GNU) and supports extensive customization through .clang-format configuration files. When using --style=file, it searches parent directories for the nearest configuration file.
clang-format integrates with most major editors and CI/CD pipelines. The --dry-run option with --Werror enables enforcement of formatting standards in automated checks without modifying files.

-i

Edit files in place

Coding style (LLVM, Google, Chromium, Mozilla, WebKit, Microsoft, file)

Dump configuration to stdout

Filename for language detection when reading stdin

Format only specified line range

Don't write changes, exit with error if changes needed

Treat formatting issues as errors

Style when no .clang-format found

Show files being processed

Create .clang-format or _clang-format in project root:

$ BasedOnStyle: Google
IndentWidth: 4
ColumnLimit: 100

LLVM, Google, Chromium, Mozilla, WebKit, Microsoft, GNU

Integrations available for VS Code, CLion, Vim, Emacs, Sublime Text, and most major editors.

Style "file" uses nearest .clang-format in parent directories. Some formatting choices are opinionated and may require configuration adjustments.

clang(1), clang-tidy(1)