After this lesson, you will be able to: Explain what C++ adds over C, the zero-overhead principle, and when to choose C++ over C or a higher-level language.
C++ is C + classes + templates + STL + 40 more years of features. Used where you need control AND abstractions: game engines, browsers, embedded with state, HFT, robotics.
This is a free introductory lesson. No purchase required.
Classes + RAII (resource cleanup on scope exit). Templates (compile-time generic programming). Standard Template Library (STL): vector, map, string, algorithms. Exceptions (alternative to error codes). Namespaces + operator overloading. Smart pointers (unique_ptr, shared_ptr). Modern features: move semantics, lambdas, constexpr, concepts (C++20), ranges (C++20).
Bjarne Stroustrup (C++ creator): 'You don't pay for what you don't use, and what you do use is as efficient as you could hand-write.' A virtual function call costs one indirect jump, same as a C function pointer. std::unique_ptr compiles to the same machine code as a raw pointer + a free() call. Templates instantiate per-type, generating optimal code for each. Result: C++ runs as fast as C while giving you abstractions C can't express cleanly.
Save as hello.cpp; compile with `g++ hello.cpp -o hello -std=c++20 -Wall -Wextra`.
#include <iostream>#include <vector>#include <string>int main() {std::vector<std::string> langs = {"C", "C++", "Rust"};for (const auto& lang : langs) {std::cout << "Hello from " << lang << "\n";}return 0;}// Note vs C:// std::vector (auto-grows, auto-frees memory)// std::string (no buffer overflows)// range-based for (since C++11)// << operator overload on cout (vs printf format strings)
Pick the cleanest summary.
Calling C++ 'C with classes' (it's a separate language with very different idioms). Using `new`/`delete` instead of smart pointers + RAII. Writing Java-style deep class hierarchies (modern C++ favors composition + templates). Ignoring `const` correctness. Skipping `-Wall -Wextra`, silent UB is the #1 source of C++ bugs.