C++ - Introduction

C++ is a powerful general-purpose programming language that is an extension of the C programming language. It was developed as an enhancement to C and introduced additional features such as object-oriented programming (OOP) and support for generic programming. C++ is widely used in various applications, including software development, game development, embedded systems, and more.

There are several reasons why C++ is popular and widely used:

• Efficiency: C++ allows low-level manipulation of memory and provides direct access to hardware resources, making it suitable for performance-critical applications.
• Object-Oriented Programming (OOP): C++ supports the OOP paradigm, allowing the organization of code into reusable objects with data and behavior. This promotes modularity, code reusability, and easier maintenance.
• Standard Template Library (STL): C++ provides a rich set of libraries, including the STL, which offers a collection of data structures and algorithms. This helps in writing efficient and reusable code.
• Compatibility with C: C++ is backward-compatible with C, meaning that C code can be seamlessly integrated into C++ programs. This allows for leveraging existing C codebases and libraries.

The main difference between C and C++ can be summarized as follows:

• Paradigm: C is a procedural programming language, whereas C++ supports both procedural and object-oriented programming.
• Features: C++ introduced several new features compared to C, such as classes, objects, inheritance, polymorphism, templates, and exception handling. These features enable more advanced programming techniques and code organization.
• Standard Template Library (STL): C++ provides the STL, which is a collection of generic data structures and algorithms, simplifying the implementation of complex operations.
• Compatibility: C++ is generally compatible with C code, meaning that C code can be compiled and used within C++ programs.