Introduction to C++ Programming | What is C++, History, Features, Standards and Setup

This complete tutorial on Introduction to C++ Programming covers the essential fundamentals required to start learning C++ from scratch. It explains what C++ is, its history, core features, differences between C and C++, real-world applications, C++ standards (C++11, C++14, C++17, C++20), the compilation process, and step-by-step environment setup on Linux and Windows. The tutorial follows best coding practices and is ideal for beginners, students, and professionals preparing for software develo

Introduction to C++ – Complete Tutorial

1. What is C++

C++ is a general-purpose, high-performance programming language developed as an extension of the C language. It supports procedural, object-oriented, and generic programming, making it suitable for both system-level and application-level development.

C++ is widely used where performance, memory control, and scalability are critical.

Key points:

  1. Compiled language
  2. Strongly typed
  3. Supports low-level memory manipulation
  4. Widely used in industry

2. History of C++

  1. 1979 – Bjarne Stroustrup started working on “C with Classes”
  2. 1983 – Language renamed to C++
  3. 1985 – First commercial release
  4. 1998 – Standardized as C++98
  5. 2011 onward – Modern C++ introduced with major improvements

C++ continues to evolve with new standards while maintaining backward compatibility.

3. Features of C++

  1. Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)
  2. High performance and efficiency
  3. Rich Standard Template Library (STL)
  4. Memory management using pointers
  5. Platform independent source code
  6. Support for low-level and high-level programming
  7. Strong compile-time type checking

4. C vs C++

FeatureCC++
Programming styleProceduralMulti-paradigm
OOP supportNoYes
Data securityLowHigh (encapsulation)
Memory managementManualManual + OOP support
STLNoYes
Function overloadingNoYes

C++ builds on C while adding powerful abstraction and design features.

5. Applications of C++

C++ is used in many domains, including:

  1. Operating systems
  2. Game development
  3. Embedded systems
  4. Banking and financial software
  5. Real-time systems
  6. Compilers and interpreters
  7. Desktop applications
  8. High-performance servers

6. C++ Standards

C++ standards define language features and improvements.

  1. C++11 – Auto keyword, smart pointers, lambda expressions
  2. C++14 – Performance improvements and simplifications
  3. C++17 – Structured bindings, filesystem library
  4. C++20 – Concepts, ranges, coroutines

Modern C++ emphasizes safety, readability, and performance.

7. Compilation Process in C++

The C++ compilation process has four stages:

  1. Preprocessing
  2. Handles #include, #define, and macros
  3. Compilation
  4. Converts source code into assembly code
  5. Assembly
  6. Converts assembly code into object code
  7. Linking
  8. Links object files and libraries into an executable

Example:


g++ program.cpp -o program

8. Setting Up C++ Environment

Linux (Ubuntu / CentOS)

  1. Install compiler:

sudo apt install g++

or


sudo yum install gcc-c++
  1. Verify installation:

g++ --version

Windows

Options:

  1. MinGW
  2. MSYS2
  3. Visual Studio (recommended for beginners)

Steps (MinGW):

  1. Download MinGW
  2. Add bin folder to PATH
  3. Verify using g++ --version

9. First C++ Program


#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

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

Best Practices

  1. Use meaningful variable names
  2. Avoid using namespace std; in large projects
  3. Always return 0 from main
  4. Follow proper indentation and formatting

Summary

This chapter introduced the foundations of C++ programming, including its history, features, standards, compilation process, and environment setup. Mastering these basics is essential before moving into syntax, OOP, and advanced C++ concepts.