Introduction to C++ Programming

Introduction to C++

• C++ is a general-purpose programming language, an extension of the C programming language.
• It's known for its efficiency and control over hardware.
• It supports various programming paradigms, including procedural, object-oriented, and generic programming.
• C++ is widely used in system programming, game development, and high-performance computing.

Data Types

• C++ offers a variety of built-in data types, including:
  • Integer types (e.g., int, short, long, long long)
  • Floating-point types (e.g., float, double, long double)
  • Character types (char)
  • Boolean types (bool)
• Users can also define custom data types using structures and classes.

Variables and Constants

• Variables store data values that can be changed during program execution.
• Constants store values that remain fixed throughout the program.
• Variables and constants must be declared with their data types before use.
• Examples: int age = 30; const double PI = 3.14159;

Operators

• C++ supports various operators to perform arithmetic, logical, and bitwise operations.
• Examples of arithmetic operators: +, -, *, /, % (modulo)
• Examples of logical operators: && (AND), || (OR), ! (NOT)
• Examples of comparison operators: ==, !=, >, <, >=, <=

Control Structures

• Control structures allow the program to make decisions and repeat actions.
  • if statements: execute code based on conditions.
  • else if statements: provide additional conditions.
  • else statements: execute code if none of the previous conditions are met.
  • switch statements: perform different actions based on the value of an expression.
  • for loops: repeat a block of code a specific number of times.
  • while loops: repeat a block of code while a condition is true.
  • do-while loops: repeat a block of code at least once and then continue while a condition is true.

Functions

• Functions are reusable blocks of code that perform specific tasks.
• They can take input arguments and return values.
• Functions help organize code and make it more modular.
  • Function declaration: specifies the function's name, parameters, and return type.
  • Function definition: provides the actual implementation of the function's code.
  • Function call: invokes the function to execute its code.

Pointers

• Pointers are variables that store memory addresses.
• They allow direct access and manipulation of data in memory.
• Pointers are crucial for working with dynamically allocated memory and handling data structures effectively.

Arrays

• Arrays are used to store a collection of elements of the same data type.
• Elements are accessed using their index.
• Arrays can be one-dimensional, two-dimensional, or higher-dimensional.

Strings

• C++ strings are objects, not primitive types like in some other languages.
• Header <string> is required to use string objects.
• Operations include concatenation, comparing strings, searching for substrings, etc.

Input/Output (I/O)

• C++ provides ways to read input from the user and write output to the console or a file.
  • cin (standard input) reads data from the keyboard.
  • cout (standard output) writes data to the console.
  • File I/O operations allow interaction with files.

Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) Concepts

• C++ supports OOP, with features like classes, objects, inheritance, polymorphism and encapsulation.
• Classes define blueprints for objects, which are instances of classes.
• Inheritance allows creating new classes based on existing ones, inheriting their properties and behaviors.
• Polymorphism allows objects of different classes to be treated as objects of a common type.
• Encapsulation bundles data and methods that operate on the data within a class.

Memory Management

• Dynamic memory allocation allows allocating memory during program execution.
• Use new and delete operators carefully to prevent memory leaks.

Error Handling

• Handling potential errors arising from the program is essential.
• try, catch and throw blocks help manage exceptions during program execution.

Preprocessor Directives

• Preprocessor directives like #include, #define, and #ifdef instruct the preprocessor to perform actions before the compilation process begins, affecting the final code produced.

Standard Template Library (STL)

• The STL is a set of reusable C++ components providing data structures and algorithms.
• Includes containers like vector, list, map, set, and algorithms like sort, find.
• Increases efficiency and code reusability.