Introduction to CPP

 

intoduction_to_cpp


Introduction to C++

C++ is one of the most widely-used programming languages, known for its performance, versatility, and powerful features. It’s a language that bridges the gap between high-level and low-level programming, providing both the efficiency of assembly language and the flexibility of modern programming paradigms.

History of C++ and Its Evolution

C++ was created by Bjarne Stroustrup at Bell Labs in the early 1980s. Initially, it was developed as an extension to the C language, adding object-oriented capabilities to support complex systems and large-scale applications.

  • 1983: C++ was first released as “C with Classes.”
  • 1985: The name was officially changed to C++, signifying an "increment" over C, as "++" is the increment operator in programming.
  • 1998: The ISO/IEC 14882 standard was published, giving C++ an official, standardized form.
  • Modern C++: The language continues to evolve with major updates in 2011 (C++11), 2014 (C++14), 2017 (C++17), and 2020 (C++20), bringing new features and optimizations.

Features of C++

C++ has several key features that make it powerful and versatile:

  • Object-Oriented Programming (OOP): C++ supports OOP concepts like classes and objects, inheritance, polymorphism, encapsulation, and abstraction, allowing for organized and modular code.
  • High Performance: C++ is close to hardware, making it highly efficient, which is why it’s used in performance-critical applications like games, operating systems, and real-time processing systems.
  • Rich Standard Library: The Standard Template Library (STL) provides powerful, reusable data structures and algorithms.
  • Low-Level Manipulation: C++ allows direct memory access through pointers, making it suitable for system programming and embedded systems.
  • Flexibility and Scalability: Its flexibility allows for various programming styles and the development of both small programs and large-scale applications.

Structure of a C++ Program

A basic C++ program consists of:

  1. Preprocessor Directives: Commands that begin with #, such as #include, which imports libraries.
  2. Main Function: Every C++ program has a main() function that serves as the entry point.
  3. Code Statements: Statements that execute within the main() function or any user-defined functions.

Here’s a simple “Hello, World!” program in C++:

cpp structure

Explanation:
  • #include <iostream>: Imports the standard input/output stream.
  • int main(): Defines the main function, which returns an integer value.
  • std::cout << "Hello, World!";: Outputs "Hello, World!" to the console.
  • return 0;: Indicates the program ended successfully.

Compiling and Running C++ Programs

C++ code is compiled, transforming the human-readable code into machine-readable instructions. Here’s how it works:

  1. Write the Code: Save your code in a .cpp file.
  2. Compile the Code: Use a compiler, like GCC (GNU Compiler Collection), to compile the program.
    • Command: g++ program.cpp -o program
    • Here, program.cpp is the file name, and -o program specifies the output file.
  3. Run the Program: Execute the output file.
    • Command: ./program

Example Using a Practical Task

Let’s write a simple program to calculate the area of a rectangle:

cpp rectangle

Explanation:

  • This program prompts the user to enter the length and width, calculates the area by multiplying the two, and displays the result.
  • It uses std::cin for user input and std::cout for output, demonstrating basic I/O in C++.


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