C++ Programming Language Tutorial

Master C++ programming from basic syntax to advanced Object-Oriented Programming (OOP), STL, and modern C++ features with practical examples.

Object-Oriented

Learn OOP concepts

STL Included

Standard Template Library

Modern C++

C++11/14/17/20 Features

1. Introduction to C++ Programming

C++ is a general-purpose programming language created by Bjarne Stroustrup as an extension of the C programming language, or "C with Classes". It has imperative, object-oriented and generic programming features, while also providing facilities for low-level memory manipulation.

History of C++

1979: Bjarne Stroustrup begins work on "C with Classes"
1983: Renamed to C++
1985: First commercial release
1998: First ISO standard (C++98)
2011: Major update (C++11)
2014, 2017, 2020: Subsequent updates

Why Learn C++?

High performance and efficiency
Object-Oriented Programming
Standard Template Library (STL)
Used in game development, system software
Foundation for understanding other languages
Cross-platform development

First C++ Program

Every C++ program must have a main() function. Here's the traditional "Hello, World!" program:

hello.cpp

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

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

2. Basic Syntax and Structure

C++ programs are composed of various tokens including keywords, identifiers, literals, operators, and punctuators.

Component	Description	Example
Preprocessor Directives	Instructions for the preprocessor	`#include <iostream>`
Namespace	Prevents naming conflicts	`using namespace std;`
Functions	Blocks of code that perform tasks	`int main() { ... }`
Variables	Named storage locations	`int count = 10;`
Statements	Instructions that perform actions	`cout << "Hello";`
Comments	Explanatory text ignored by compiler	`// Single line comment`

Best Practice: Always include comments to explain complex logic. Use meaningful variable names and follow consistent indentation.

3. Running C++ Programs

Windows Setup

Using Visual Studio (Recommended for Windows):

Download Visual Studio Community Edition
Install "Desktop development with C++" workload
Create a new C++ Console Application project
Write code and press F5 to run

Using MinGW (Alternative)

# Install MinGW
# Add to PATH: C:\MinGW\bin
# Compile: g++ hello.cpp -o hello.exe
# Run: hello.exe

Linux Setup

# Install g++
sudo apt install g++

# Compile
g++ hello.cpp -o hello

# Run
./hello

30-Day C++ Learning Roadmap

1-7

Week 1: C++ Fundamentals

Syntax, Data Types, Operators, Basic I/O

8-14

Week 2: Control Flow & Functions

Conditionals, Loops, Functions, Arrays

15-21

Week 3: Object-Oriented Programming

Classes, Objects, Inheritance, Polymorphism

22-30

Week 4: Advanced Topics

STL, File Handling, Modern C++

4. Variables and Data Types

C++ supports various data types including primitive types, derived types, and user-defined types.

Variables Example

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
    // Primitive data types
    int age = 25;
    float salary = 45000.50f;
    double pi = 3.1415926535;
    char grade = 'A';
    bool isEmployed = true;
    
    // Auto keyword (C++11)
    auto score = 95.5; // double
    
    // Display values
    cout << "Age: " << age << endl;
    cout << "Salary: " << salary << endl;
    cout << "Grade: " << grade << endl;
    cout << "Is Employed: " << boolalpha << isEmployed << endl;
    
    return 0;
}

Data Type	Size (Bytes)	Range	Example
`int`	4	-2³¹ to 2³¹-1	`int x = 10;`
`float`	4	±3.4e-38 to ±3.4e38	`float f = 3.14f;`
`double`	8	±1.7e-308 to ±1.7e308	`double d = 3.14159;`
`char`	1	-128 to 127	`char c = 'A';`
`bool`	1	true/false	`bool flag = true;`
`wchar_t`	2	0 to 65,535	`wchar_t wc = L'A';`

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