C++ Overview: Object-Oriented Programming
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Pratibha BahugunaC++ Overview: Object-Oriented Programming
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Pratibha BahugunaC++ Overview
C++ is a statically typed, compiled, general-purpose, case-sensitive, free-form
programming language that supports procedural, object-oriented, and generic
programming.
C++ is regarded as a middle-level language, as it comprises a combination of both
high-level and low-level language features.
C++ was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell Labs in Murray Hill,
New Jersey, as an enhancement to the C language and originally named C with
Classes but later it was renamed C++ in 1983.
C++ is a superset of C, and that virtually any legal C program is a legal C++ program.
Note − A programming language is said to use static typing when type checking is
performed during compile-time as opposed to run-time.
Object-Oriented Programming
C++ fully supports object-oriented programming, including the four pillars of object-
oriented development −
Encapsulation
Data hiding
Inheritance
Polymorphism
Standard Libraries
Standard C++ consists of three important parts −
The core language giving all the building blocks including variables, data types
and literals, etc.
The C++ Standard Library giving a rich set of functions manipulating files,
strings, etc.
The Standard Template Library (STL) giving a rich set of methods manipulating
data structures, etc.
The ANSI Standard
The ANSI standard is an attempt to ensure that C++ is portable; that code you write for
Microsoft's compiler will compile without errors, using a compiler on a Mac, UNIX, a
Windows box, or an Alpha.
The ANSI standard has been stable for a while, and all the major C++ compiler
manufacturers support the ANSI standard.
Learning C++
The most important thing while learning C++ is to focus on concepts.
The purpose of learning a programming language is to become a better programmer;
that is, to become more effective at designing and implementing new systems and at
maintaining old ones.
C++ supports a variety of programming styles. You can write in the style of Fortran, C,
Smalltalk, etc., in any language. Each style can achieve its aims effectively while
maintaining runtime and space efficiency.
Use of C++
C++ is used by hundreds of thousands of programmers in essentially every application
domain.
C++ is being highly used to write device drivers and other software that rely on direct
manipulation of hardware under realtime constraints.
C++ is widely used for teaching and research because it is clean enough for successful
teaching of basic concepts.
Anyone who has used either an Apple Macintosh or a PC running Windows has
indirectly used C++ because the primary user interfaces of these systems are written in
C++.
