C/C++: error: expected ';' before 'x' — missing semicolon

Meaning

GCC and Clang report this at the next token, so the real mistake is usually one line earlier, or after the closing brace of a struct, class or enum. An unbalanced bracket or a macro that expands badly can trigger the same message.

Common causes

• Missing ; at the end of the previous statement
• Missing ; after the closing } of a struct, class or enum
• Unbalanced ( or { earlier in the file
• A macro or header that ends in the middle of a statement

Detailed fix by platform

Code examples

struct Point {
    int x;
    int y;
}                       // <-- missing ';' here

int main() {
    Point p{1, 2};      // GCC reports the error on this line
    return p.x;
}

How to diagnose

1. Position — Is the mistake on the line before the reported one?
2. Braces — Do every { and ( have a partner?
3. Cascade — Is this the first error in the output?

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