Overview of C++

C++ is a powerful and versatile programming language that builds upon the foundations of its predecessor, C. It is widely used for system programming, game development, and creating high-performance applications. Understanding the core concepts of C++ is essential for anyone looking to master this language.

Key Concepts

1. Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)

C++ is primarily known for its support of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP). OOP is a programming paradigm that organizes software design around objects, which are instances of classes. Key features of OOP in C++ include:

• Classes and Objects: Classes are blueprints for creating objects, while objects are instances of classes. For example, a class named Car can have objects like sedan and suv.
• Encapsulation: This principle bundles the data and methods that operate on the data into a single unit, often referred to as a class. It also restricts direct access to some of an object's components, ensuring data integrity.
• Inheritance: This allows a class to inherit properties and methods from another class, promoting code reuse. For instance, a SportsCar class can inherit from a Car class.
• Polymorphism: This enables objects of different classes to be treated as objects of a common super class. It allows for methods to be implemented differently in different classes, providing flexibility.

2. Standard Template Library (STL)

The STL is a powerful set of C++ template classes to provide general-purpose classes and functions with templates. It is a library of container classes, algorithms, and iterators. Key components of the STL include:

• Containers: These are used to manage collections of objects of a certain kind. Examples include vector, list, and map.
• Algorithms: These are procedures for processing data stored in containers. Examples include sort, find, and accumulate.
• Iterators: These are objects that allow traversal of containers and access to their elements. They act as a bridge between containers and algorithms.

3. Memory Management

C++ provides manual control over memory management, unlike some higher-level languages that handle memory automatically. This includes:

• Dynamic Memory Allocation: Using new and delete operators to allocate and deallocate memory at runtime.
• Pointers: Variables that store the address of another variable. Pointers are crucial for dynamic memory management and accessing memory directly.

Examples

Class and Object Example

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

class Car {
public:
    string brand;
    string model;
    int year;
    void displayInfo() {
        cout << brand << " " << model << " " << year << endl;
    }
};

int main() {
    Car sedan;
    sedan.brand = "Toyota";
    sedan.model = "Camry";
    sedan.year = 2020;
    sedan.displayInfo();
    return 0;
}
    

STL Example

#include <iostream>
#include <vector>
#include <algorithm>
using namespace std;

int main() {
    vector<int> numbers = {3, 1, 4, 1, 5, 9};
    sort(numbers.begin(), numbers.end());
    for (int num : numbers) {
        cout << num << " ";
    }
    return 0;
}
    

Memory Management Example

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
    int* ptr = new int;
    *ptr = 10;
    cout << "Value: " << *ptr << endl;
    delete ptr;
    return 0;
}