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Introduction to C++

What is C++?

C++ is a powerful, high-performance programming language created by Bjarne Stroustrup in 1979 as an extension of C. It supports both low-level memory manipulation and high-level abstractions like classes and templates.

C++ is used for systems programming, game engines, embedded systems, competitive programming, and performance-critical applications.

  • High performance — close to hardware
  • Multi-paradigm: procedural, object-oriented, generic
  • Rich standard library (STL)
  • Used in game engines (Unreal), browsers (Chrome), and OS kernels
  • Backward compatible with C

Your First C++ Program

A basic C++ program includes headers, uses the std namespace, and has a main function as the entry point.

Example 
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
    cout << "Hello, World!" << endl;
    return 0;
}

// Compile: g++ -o hello hello.cpp
// Run: ./hello