What is C++?

What is programming?

A computer is very fast, but it can't think for itself. It only does what it is told. Programming means writing those instructions down in a language the computer understands.

Think of it like this: A program is like a recipe. A recipe says: take two eggs, crack them, stir, cook for two minutes. The cook follows each step in order. The computer is the cook, and your program is the recipe.

What is C++?

C++ (say it: “see plus plus”) is a programming language. It was created by Bjarne Stroustrup in 1985 as an improved version of an older language called C. The ++ in the name is a little joke: in C, ++ means “add one”. So C++ means “C, plus one more”.

C++ is famous for being very fast. It gives you a lot of control over the computer, so it is used when speed really matters.

What is built with C++?

• Games and game engines – Unreal Engine and many big games are written in C++.
• Web browsers – Chrome and Firefox are mostly C++.
• Operating systems and tools – parts of Windows, macOS and Linux tools.
• Security tools – fast scanners, debuggers, antivirus engines and exploit research.
• Robots, cars and devices – small computers inside machines often run C++.

Here is a tiny C++ program

Don't worry about understanding it yet. Just look at it. Under the code you can see its Output: what appears on the screen when it runs.

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
    cout << "Hello! I am a C++ program." << endl;
    return 0;
}

Output

Hello! I am a C++ program.

How this course works

• Each module teaches one topic in small, easy lessons.
• Every lesson has examples. Each code box has a Copy button, so you can try it yourself.
• Under most examples you'll see the Output – exactly what the program prints when it runs.
• At the end of every module there are coding challenges. You write the code right in your browser and press Check to see if it is correct.

Remember: C++ has a reputation for being hard. It doesn't have to be! We go one small step at a time, and you don't need to remember everything. Programmers look things up all the time.