C++ is a powerful, high-performance programming language used to build operating systems, games, browsers, databases, and many other software applications. It supports multiple programming styles such as procedural, object-oriented, and generic programming, which makes it flexible and widely used in both academics and industry.
Introduction to C++ Programming
C++ is a general-purpose, case-sensitive programming language that supports procedural language. C++ was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell Labs in Murray Hill, New Jersey. Previous C++ was named as C, but later it was renamed to C++ in 1983.
C++ fully supports object-orientated programming. C++ supports the following four pillars of the object-orientated programme:
- Encapsulation
- Data hiding
- Inheritance
- Polymorphism
Advantages of C++
- Fast executing speed: C++ is compiled directly into machine code, which makes it faster than interpreted languages like Python or JavaScript.
- Support Object-orientated program: C++ supports classes, inheritance, polymorphism, encapsulation and abstraction.
- Portable across the platforms: C++ can work on Windows, Linux, macOS and Unix operating systems.
- Rich Standard Library: C++ provides the Standard Template Library (STL) with ready-to-use data structures and algorithms.
- Large development community: C++ has a large community which supports and updates the resources.
First C++ Program
The basic structure of the C++ programming language is
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main() {
cout << "Hello, World!";
return 0;
}- include -> Brings in the input/output library so we can use cout.
- using namespace std; -> Lets us use standard library features without writing std::cout.
- int main() -> The entry point of every C++ program. Execution starts here.
- cout << “Hello, World!”; -> Sends the text to the console.
- return 0; -> Signals that the program ended successfully.
Where is C++ used?
- Operating System: Windows, macOS and some parts of Linux are written in C++.
- Device Drivers: The hardware drivers depend on C++ for direct memory and hardware access.
- Compiler: Many programming language compilers are made using C++, like GCC and LLVM.
- Gaming: C++ provides real-time performance and direct hardware control; because of this, C++ is important for gaming.
- Embedded Systems and IoT: C++ is used to make smartwatches, medical devices, automotive systems and IoT devices.
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: Many libraries, like TensorFlow and PyTorch, use C++ programs in their libraries for speed.
- Web Browsers and Search Engines: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Safari use C++ programs.
Programming Approaches
Programming approaches are the styles and strategies used to design and write computer programs. There are four main programming approaches –
- Imperative Programming: It focuses on how a program runs step by step and is basically used in C and Assembly language.
- Procedural Programming: It breaks the program into procedures that can be reused, for example, C and Pascal.
- Object-Orientated Programming: It is a very popular concept; it organises code around objects and is used in C++, Java and Python.
- Functional Programming: It treats computation as the evaluation of a mathematical function and avoids changing state; it is basically used in Haskell, Lisp and Scala.
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