This section highlights the main breaking changes introduced in Solidity version 0.7.0, along with the reasoning behind the changes and how to update affected code. For the full list check the release changelog.
- Exponentiation and shifts of literals by non-literals (e.g.
1 << x
or2 ** x
) will always use either the typeuint256
(for non-negative literals) orint256
(for negative literals) to perform the operation. Previously, the operation was performed in the type of the shift amount / the exponent which can be misleading.
- In external function and contract creation calls, Ether and gas is now specified using a new syntax:
x.f{gas: 10000, value: 2 ether}(arg1, arg2)
. The old syntax --x.f.gas(10000).value(2 ether)(arg1, arg2)
-- will cause an error. - The global variable
now
is deprecated,block.timestamp
should be used instead. The single identifiernow
is too generic for a global variable and could give the impression that it changes during transaction processing, whereasblock.timestamp
correctly reflects the fact that it is just a property of the block. - NatSpec comments on variables are only allowed for public state variables and not for local or internal variables.
- The token
gwei
is a keyword now (used to specify, e.g.2 gwei
as a number) and cannot be used as an identifier. - String literals now can only contain printable ASCII characters and this also includes a variety of
escape sequences, such as hexadecimal (
\xff
) and unicode escapes (\u20ac
). - Unicode string literals are supported now to accommodate valid UTF-8 sequences. They are identified
with the
unicode
prefix:unicode"Hello 😃"
. - State Mutability: The state mutability of functions can now be restricted during inheritance:
Functions with default state mutability can be overridden by
pure
andview
functions whileview
functions can be overridden bypure
functions. At the same time, public state variables are consideredview
and evenpure
if they are constants.
- Disallow
.
in user-defined function and variable names in inline assembly. It is still valid if you use Solidity in Yul-only mode. - Slot and offset of storage pointer variable
x
are accessed viax.slot
andx.offset
instead ofx_slot
andx_offset
.
- If a struct or array contains a mapping, it can only be used in storage. Previously, mapping members were silently skipped in memory, which is confusing and error-prone.
- Assignments to structs or arrays in storage does not work if they contain mappings. Previously, mappings were silently skipped during the copy operation, which is misleading and error-prone.
- Visibility (
public
/internal
) is not needed for constructors anymore: To prevent a contract from being created, it can be markedabstract
. This makes the visibility concept for constructors obsolete. - Type Checker: Disallow
virtual
for library functions: Since libraries cannot be inherited from, library functions should not be virtual. - Multiple events with the same name and parameter types in the same inheritance hierarchy are disallowed.
using A for B
only affects the contract it is mentioned in. Previously, the effect was inherited. Now, you have to repeat theusing
statement in all derived contracts that make use of the feature.
- Shifts by signed types are disallowed. Previously, shifts by negative amounts were allowed, but reverted at runtime.
- The
finney
andszabo
denominations are removed. They are rarely used and do not make the actual amount readily visible. Instead, explicit values like1e20
or the very commongwei
can be used.
- The keyword
var
cannot be used anymore. Previously, this keyword would parse but result in a type error and a suggestion about which type to use. Now, it results in a parser error.
- JSON AST: Mark hex string literals with
kind: "hexString"
. - JSON AST: Members with value
null
are removed from JSON output. - NatSpec: Constructors and functions have consistent userdoc output.
This section gives detailed instructions on how to update prior code for every breaking change.
- Change
x.f.value(...)()
tox.f{value: ...}()
. Similarly(new C).value(...)()
tonew C{value: ...}()
andx.f.gas(...).value(...)()
tox.f{gas: ..., value: ...}()
. - Change
now
toblock.timestamp
. - Change types of right operand in shift operators to unsigned types. For example change
x >> (256 - y)
tox >> uint(256 - y)
. - Repeat the
using A for B
statements in all derived contracts if needed. - Remove the
public
keyword from every constructor. - Remove the
internal
keyword from every constructor and addabstract
to the contract (if not already present). - Change
_slot
and_offset
suffixes in inline assembly to.slot
and.offset
, respectively.