Question 1

What is C++?

Accepted Answer

C++ is a high-level cross-platform general-purpose programming language. It was created at Bell Labs by Bjarne Stroustrup as an extension to the C programming language. C++ employed the object-oriented programming concepts introduced in the 1960s with the Simula 1 and Simula 67 languages. Bjarne Stroustrup described the language as a general-purpose programming language with a bias towards systems programming that is a better C and supports data abstraction, object-oriented programming, and generic programming. C++ is a language for defining and using lightweight abstractions. It supports user-defined functions, and the source code is easy to read. C++ is portable, scalable, and compatible with C programs. It is object-oriented, includes memory management, and allows for low-level manipulation. Finally, C++ has a large community support, making it relatively easy to find resources.

Question 2

What can C++ be used for?

Accepted Answer

C++ is widely used for building applications, games, animations, and web browsers, as well as accessing data in databases and developing tools like compilers and operating systems. Because C++ produces high-performance code, it is used in banking operations for trading and in airline flight control systems. Game developers like Blizzard choose C++ for its rich GUI libraries and low-level functions allowing developers to code at the hardware level.  Although many languages can be useful for cybersecurity, C++ plays an especially important role. This is mainly because C++ is a powerful, low-level programming language that can access hardware and low-level IT infrastructure, such as RAM and system processes, which are often most vulnerable to hacking attacks. Some of the famous applications that used C++ in their development are Adobe Photoshop, Spotify, Google’s YouTube, Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird, and Microsoft Windows OS.

Question 3

Is C++ still useful to learn?

Accepted Answer

Even though C++ is a 30-year-old programming language with a steep learning curve, it is still useful to learn. While more modern higher-level languages will allow you to build a project quicker and easier, there are some applications where the speed and efficiency you can get from C++ are in high demand. Many game developers, especially when developing 3D games, prefer to use C++ because of its performance. C++ code is also used extensively with embedded systems, where it may be the only language you can use for a lot of hardware. C++ is also important to learn because so many other programming languages use its syntax; even if you never write an application in C++, the knowledge is translatable to programming languages like Java, C#, JavaScript and PHP.

Question 4

What is Visual C++?

Accepted Answer

While C++ is a full-fledged programming language, Visual C++ itself is not a language. Instead, it is a set of development tools and libraries provided by Microsoft that makes it easier to create Windows desktop applications, server applications, Universal Windows Platform (UWP) projects, and .NET applications with C++. Microsoft Visual C++ ships with Visual Studio, Microsoft’s integrated development environment (IDE). Visual C++ in Visual Studio consists of libraries and tools for easier development and features its own compiler. Using Visual C++ allows a developer to get started more quickly by supplying pre-elements like Windows desktop and UI elements that would otherwise take a lot of time to build from scratch. Visual C++ only works on Windows platforms, so it is widely used by Windows developers but does not work for cross-platform applications.

Question 5

What careers use C++?

Accepted Answer

C++ is still a widely used language. That being said, while there are plenty of careers that require C++ development skills, many of them are specialized. A majority of compilers and operating systems are written in C++ code, making low-level development a career option for C++ developers. There are also many careers in game development for C++ developers, as the performance C++ provides is a necessity for high-performance 3D games. In fact, 3D is a realm where C++ shines; many jobs that deal with 3D graphics of any kind use C++ as a primary language. A variety of embedded systems use C or C++ code, so hardware development is a good career path for someone proficient in the C++ programming language. You will find a career in C++ wherever performance is a must.

Question 6

Why should I use C++?

Accepted Answer

Although it is an older programming language, there are still reasons you would choose it as the programming language for your next project. C++ is a statically typed, compiled language. This means its types are checked when the software is compiled, resulting in fewer bugs at run time from type errors. As a compiled language, the resulting code is customized to the platform it is built for, resulting in smaller, faster applications. For projects where you need a lot of performance, you should use C++. Game development is one place where C++ is frequently used to create realistic 3D animation. Low-level applications like operating systems and database software also use C++. If you work with embedded systems, you will most likely need C++ to interact with the hardware.

Question 7

What is the difference between C++ and C?

Accepted Answer

The C programming language debuted in 1969 and was the inspiration for many programming languages to come. One of those was C++, which launched ten years later. Besides age, the difference between the two is that C was designed for procedural programming, and C++ supports both procedural and object-oriented programming paradigms. C does not support polymorphism, encapsulation, and inheritance, while C++ does. Since C does not support encapsulation, you can use it to manipulate data from code outside the procedure. C++ does support encapsulation, so it cannot manipulate data from outside an object unless that data has specifically been made public. C is a function-driven language, while C++ is an object-driven language. It also does not support namespaces or function and operator overloading, but C++ does.

Question 8

What is the best IDE for C++

Accepted Answer

The best IDE for C++ depends on what features you need for the type of programming you will do and your personal preferences. There are quite a few integrated development environments for C++ that are popular. Visual Studio Code is one of the most popular IDEs for C++ because it is cross-platform, open-source, free, and supported by Microsoft. It also supports other programming languages and has hundreds of community-contributed and official extensions that you can also install for free to add more features. CodeBlocks is another popular IDE specifically designed for high-performance C++ programming. It also is free to use and cross-platform. Eclipse is a popular general-purpose IDE that was originally exclusive to Java, but it also works well for C++ programming with the addition of extensions. It is also free, cross-platform, and open-source.

C++ Courses

All C++ courses

Not sure? All courses have a 30-day money-back guarantee

Why learn on Udemy?

Learn more about C++

Free C++ lessons