Technology has become integrated into the everyday lives of almost every person on the globe. The ability to create and communicate with the technology that is used for creating the interfaces that we use on the internet, on our televisions, and on the phones that are in almost every pocket in the country. This is accomplished through the programming languages that have been created over the years to assist in these projects.
What is C++?
C++ is a programming language that is widely used in spite of the other newer languages that are available currently. It is an object-oriented programming (OOP) language. C++ is considered a general-purpose programming language that can be used for many different applications. It is most often used in applications that involve local and wide-area networks, user interactions and interfaces, numerics, graphics, and data-based accesses. It is still widely used and is considered by many an essential programming language, as there are several other programming languages that are built off of C++ and rely on its performance and the reliability of the language to support their implementation.
A Brief History of C++
C++ was created by an employee of Bell Labs based in New Jersey in 1979. Bjarne Stroustroup. He created C++ based off of the language for programming known as “C”. The intention of C++ was to be an extension of the earlier program that allowed more functions. Also, C++ is object-based as opposed to the “C” being procedural, making it slightly harder to integrate with other languages. C++ quickly became the go=to programming language and now, even though it is 37 years old, it is still utilized in numerous applications, and other more current programming languages, like Javascript, are based in C++ due to its reliability. C++ is so similar to C that it is usually able to compile 99% of most C programs without changing a single line of the code.
What Does it mean to be OOP-based?
An OOP-based programming language is object-oriented programming. It is used to create objects through programming that is capable of containing both data and functions. This is better than the procedural-based programming that some languages use as it creates objects as opposed to writing the procedures of functions that perform operations on the data.
5 Basics of C++
There are basic principles that C++ runs on as a programming language. These five basics are the pillars that C++ uses to function properly and are necessary to utilize the programming language properly. These also allow other languages to function due to their critical parts being written in C++.
Variables
Variables are the backbone of any programming language and are needed for the use of that language. The variables will store the information needed for later use by the system or program. These are retrieved by use of a predetermined word or description that can be declared and defined within certain parameters. If these criteria are met, then the retrieval word can be used multiple times.
Control Structures
Control structures define code flow. Code flow is when the code is read line by line, usually top to bottom and right to left, by the compiler. The compiler is an integral part of coding as it is a utility program that reads the code entered and transforms it into executable machine code files that can actually be used by the programmer. Control structures tell the compiler what to do when reaching a point in the code where there is a decision needed to help dictate what the decision should be.
Data Structures
Data structures provide a way to store data without having to create endless numbers of variables. Data structures are things like arrays and other conventions built into the programming. These structures make it easier to centralize and organize the data needed in a way that is easily accessed by another programmer in the event something needs to be checked on at the back end.
Syntax
Programming syntax is similar to English language syntax as it expresses the specific layout of expressions and symbols in any type of programming so that any programmer can read and understand it. In C++, syntax means using well-defined rules that allow the creation of a well-functioning piece of software. When you don’t follow the rules of the software, then this is where there will be errors that occur for the user.
Tools
Tools are written into the code. A tool is a piece of software that, when used within the code, allows for faster programming. These can be exceedingly useful to a programmer. An example of one of the most useful tools is called an Integrated Development Environment or IDE. This is software that makes coding easier by ensuring that files and folders are organized and easily viewed by anyone.
Real World Applications of C++
In addition to being used for the writing of other programming languages like JavaScript and Python, C++ is used for many different applications that you probably run into on a daily basis. This language is used in numerous operating systems, video games, web browsers, library catalog systems, banking applications, cloud services, graphics software and graphics engines, embedded systems, and even in compilers that are used to read and translate the C++ code into machinable files.
This means that you are more than likely to run into some piece of technology that uses C++ on a daily basis, if not on multiple daily occasions. In the most basic of terms, C++ is needed in order for us to live our lives in the manner to which we have become accustomed. Without C++ there would be a great number of the amenities we cherish missing from our lives.
C++ Wrap Up
So, C++ is a critical form of programming language that is necessary for programmers to write the functions that every person utilizes in this era of technology. Without C++ we might be up the technology creek without a way to program a paddle.
