Introduction to C++ Programming

Purpose of the First C++ Program

• The primary purpose is to demonstrate the basic syntax and structure of a C++ program.
• Commonly, the first program outputs "Hello, World!" to familiarize programmers with the compilation and execution process.

Essential Component of C++ Program Structure

• A basic C++ program must include a function, typically main(), which serves as the entry point for execution.

Output of Basic C++ Program

• A program containing cout << Hello, World!; will produce the output: Hello, World! on the screen.
• The statement is part of the Standard Library, specifically used for console output.

Including Libraries in C++

• The keyword #include is used to include libraries, enabling access to standard functions and objects.
• For example, #include <iostream> is used to incorporate the Input/Output stream library.

Common Mistakes in First C++ Program

• A frequent error is omitting the necessary std:: prefix for standard elements like cout, leading to compilation issues.
• Forgetting to declare the return type for main(), which should be int, can also cause problems.