What is C++?

C++ is a general-purpose programming language that was developed as an extension of the C programming language. It was created by Bjarne Stroustrup in the early 1980s at Bell Labs. C++ retains the core features of C while also adding object-oriented programming (OOP) capabilities.

Why Use C++

• It's great because it helps organize programs neatly and lets us reuse code, which saves time and money.
• C++ also lets us make programs that work on different types of devices without too much extra work.
• learning C++ can be really fun and not too hard!
• And because it's similar to other languages like C, C#, and Java, it's easy for programmers to switch between them.

Here are some key features of C++:

• Object-Oriented Programming (OOP): C++ supports the principles of encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism, allowing for the creation of classes and objects.
• Classes and Objects: C++ allows you to define classes, which serve as blueprints for creating objects. Objects are instances of classes and encapsulate data and functions.
• Inheritance: C++ supports inheritance, allowing classes to inherit attributes and methods from other classes. This promotes code reusability and allows for the creation of hierarchical class structures.
• Polymorphism: C++ supports polymorphism, which allows objects of different classes to be treated as objects of a common superclass. This enables more flexible and modular code design.
• Templates: C++ includes support for templates, which allow generic programming. Templates enable the creation of functions and classes that work with any data type.
• Standard Template Library (STL): C++ provides a rich set of built-in classes and functions through the STL. It includes containers (such as vectors, lists, and maps) and algorithms (such as sorting and searching), which facilitate common programming tasks.
• Memory Management: C++ gives programmers control over memory management through features like manual memory allocation and deallocation with new and delete operators. Additionally, C++11 introduced smart pointers (e.g., std::unique_ptr and std::shared_ptr) to help manage memory automatically.
• Performance: C++ is known for its efficiency and performance. It allows low-level manipulation of memory and direct access to hardware, making it suitable for system programming, game development, and other performance-critical applications.
• Portability: C++ code can be compiled and executed on various platforms, making it a portable language. However, platform-specific features and libraries may require adjustments when targeting different environments.




Difference between C and C++




[ C vs C++ Comparison]

Aspect	C	C++
Paradigm	Procedural	Procedural, Object-Oriented, Generic
Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)	No direct support	Supports OOP features like classes, inheritance, polymorphism
Standard Libraries	C Standard Library	C++ Standard Library (STL) in addition to C Standard Library
Memory Management	Manual memory management	Automatic memory management through features like RAII and smart pointers
Error Handling	Typically uses error codes or return values	Supports exceptions for structured error handling
Syntax	Minimalist syntax	Introduces more keywords and constructs like classes and templates
Compatibility	C code can usually be compiled by a C++ compiler	Not all C++ code can be compiled by a C compiler due to additional features