> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://learn.acadlink.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Introduction to C++

> History, features, and structure of the C++ programming language

# C++ Programming Introduction

C++ is a **general-purpose, object-oriented programming language** created by **Bjarne Stroustrup** starting in **1979** at Bell Labs, originally as an extension of C called "C with Classes." It was renamed C++ in 1983.

C++ keeps C's performance and low-level memory control while adding **object-oriented, generic, and functional** programming features such as classes, templates, and the Standard Template Library (STL). It's widely used for game engines, operating systems, browsers, and performance-critical applications.

***

## Why Learn C++?

* Builds directly on C, so the fundamentals carry over.
* Used in game development, embedded systems, and high-performance software.
* Strong support for OOP concepts: classes, inheritance, polymorphism.
* Gives fine-grained control over memory and hardware resources.

***

## Structure of a C++ Program

```cpp theme={null}
#include <iostream>   // Header for input/output
using namespace std;

int main() {
    cout << "Hello, World!" << endl;
    return 0;
}
```

| Component              | Purpose                                              |
| ---------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- |
| `#include <iostream>`  | Includes the input/output stream library             |
| `using namespace std;` | Avoids prefixing standard library names with `std::` |
| `int main()`           | Entry point of every C++ program                     |
| `cout`                 | Sends output to the console                          |
| `return 0`             | Indicates the program ended successfully             |

<Info>
  This is a starter page — more C++ topics (OOP, STL, templates) will be added here as modules, the same way the C Language section is structured.
</Info>