Notes – Introduction to C++

C++ is a powerful, high-performance programming language that supports both procedural and object-oriented programming (OOP).

It is widely used in system programming, game development, embedded systems, and real-time applications.

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Origin of C++

• Developed by Bjarne Stroustrup in the early 1980s at Bell Labs
• Initially called “C with Classes“
• Later renamed to C++, where ++ symbolizes an enhancement over C

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Features of C++

Feature	Description
Object-Oriented	Supports classes, objects, inheritance, polymorphism
Compiled Language	Code is compiled into machine code before execution
Platform Independent	Code can be compiled on different operating systems
Low & High-Level	Combines low-level memory control with high-level features
Strong Type Checking	Reduces runtime errors through compile-time checks

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How is C++ Different from C?

Aspect	C	C++
Programming	Procedural	Multi-paradigm (OOP + Procedural)
Data Handling	Uses functions only	Supports classes and objects
Encapsulation	Not supported	Fully supported
Code Reuse	Limited	Supports inheritance

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Applications of C++

• Operating systems and device drivers
• Embedded systems
• Game engines and 3D graphics
• Financial and banking software
• Real-time simulations

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Sample Hello World Program

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

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

Explanation:

• #include <iostream> – used for input/output
• main() – starting point of execution
• cout – prints output to screen
• return 0; – ends the program