# **Comprehensive C++ Documentation for Beginners**

## **Table of Contents**

1. [Introduction to C++](#1-introduction-to-c)

2. [Setting Up C++](#2-setting-up-c)

- [Installing a C++ Compiler](#installing-a-c-compiler)

- [Choosing an IDE/Code Editor](#choosing-an-idecode-editor)

3. [C++ Basics](#3-c-basics)

- [Hello World](#hello-world)

- [Variables and Data Types](#variables-and-data-types)

- [Operators](#operators)

- [Input and Output](#input-and-output)

4. [Control Structures](#4-control-structures)

- [Conditional Statements](#conditional-statements)

- [Loops](#loops)

5. [Functions](#5-functions)

6. [Arrays and Strings](#6-arrays-and-strings)

- [Arrays](#arrays)

- [Strings](#strings)

7. [Pointers and References](#7-pointers-and-references)

8. [Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)](#8-object-oriented-programming-oop)

- [Classes and Objects](#classes-and-objects)

- [Inheritance](#inheritance)

- [Polymorphism](#polymorphism)

9. [File Handling](#9-file-handling)

10. [Error Handling](#10-error-handling)

12. [Next Steps](#12-next-steps)

---

## **1. Introduction to C++**

C++ is a high-performance, general-purpose programming language developed as an extension

**Key Features:**

- High performance and efficiency

- Strongly typed

- Rich standard library (STL)

- Memory management (manual and smart pointers)

- Multi-paradigm (OOP, procedural, functional)

**Use Cases:**

- Game Development (Unreal Engine)

- System/OS Programming

- Embedded Systems

- High-Frequency Trading

- Graphics and Simulations

---

## **2. Setting Up C++**

1. **Windows**: Install [MinGW](http://www.mingw.org/) or use **Visual Studio** (includes

2. **Linux**: Use `g++` (GNU C++ Compiler). Install via:

```sh

sudo apt install g++

```

3. **Mac**: Install `clang` (Xcode Command Line Tools):

```sh

xcode-select --install

```

### **Choosing an IDE/Code Editor**

- **Visual Studio (VS Code)** (Lightweight with extensions)

- **CLion** (JetBrains IDE for C++)

- **Code::Blocks** (Lightweight, cross-platform)

- **Eclipse CDT** (For large projects)

- **Sublime Text / Atom** (With C++ plugins)

---

## **3. C++ Basics**

### **Hello World**

```cpp

#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

cout << "Hello, World!" << endl;

return 0;

```

Save as `hello.cpp` and compile:

```sh

g++ hello.cpp -o hello

./hello

```

### **Variables and Data Types**

- **`int`** – `int age = 25;`

- **`float`** – `float pi = 3.14f;`

- **`double`** – `double distance = 5.67;`

- **`char`** – `char grade = 'A';`

- **`bool`** – `bool is_valid = true;`

- **`string`** – `string name = "Alice";` (Requires `#include <string>`)

### **Operators**

- **Arithmetic**: `+`, `-`, `*`, `/`, `%`, `++`, `--`

- **Comparison**: `==`, `!=`, `>`, `<`, `>=`, `<=`

- **Logical**: `&&`, `||`, `!`

- **Bitwise**: `&`, `|`, `^`, `~`, `<<`, `>>`

```cpp

int age;

cout << "Enter your age: ";

cin >> age;

cout << "You are " << age << " years old." << endl;

```

---

## **4. Control Structures**

### **Conditional Statements**

```cpp

int score = 85;

if (score >= 90) {

cout << "A Grade" << endl;

} else if (score >= 80) {

cout << "B Grade" << endl;

} else {

cout << "C Grade" << endl;

```

### **Loops**

- **`for` Loop**:
 ```cpp

for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {

cout << i << endl;

```

- **`while` Loop**:

```cpp

int i = 0;

while (i < 5) {

cout << i << endl;

i++;

```

- **`do-while` Loop**:

```cpp

int i = 0;

do {

cout << i << endl;

i++;

} while (i < 5);

```

---

## **5. Functions**

```cpp
int add(int a, int b) {

return a + b;

int main() {

cout << add(3, 4) << endl; // Output: 7

return 0;

```

**Function Overloading** (Same name, different parameters):

```cpp

int add(int a, int b) { return a + b; }

float add(float a, float b) { return a + b; }

```

---

## **6. Arrays and Strings**

### **Arrays**

```cpp

int numbers[5] = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5};

cout << numbers[0] << endl; // Output: 1

```
### **Strings**

```cpp

#include <string>

string name = "Alice";

cout << name.length() << endl; // Output: 5

```

---

## **7. Pointers and References**

- **Pointer** (Stores memory address):

```cpp

int num = 10;

int* ptr = &num;

cout << *ptr << endl; // Output: 10

```

- **Reference** (Alias to a variable):

```cpp

int num = 10;

int& ref = num;

ref = 20;

cout << num << endl; // Output: 20

```

---
## **8. Object-Oriented Programming (OOP)**

### **Classes and Objects**

```cpp

class Dog {

public:

string name;

void bark() {

cout << name << " says Woof!" << endl;

};

int main() {

Dog dog;

dog.name = "Buddy";

dog.bark(); // Output: Buddy says Woof!

return 0;

```

### **Inheritance**

```cpp

class Animal {

public:

void eat() { cout << "Eating..." << endl; }

};
class Dog : public Animal {

public:

void bark() { cout << "Woof!" << endl; }

};

```

### **Polymorphism**

```cpp

class Animal {

public:

virtual void sound() { cout << "Animal sound" << endl; }

};

class Dog : public Animal {

public:

void sound() override { cout << "Woof!" << endl; }

};

```

---

## **9. File Handling**

```cpp

#include <fstream>
// Writing to a file

ofstream outFile("example.txt");

outFile << "Hello, File!";

outFile.close();

// Reading from a file

ifstream inFile("example.txt");

string line;

getline(inFile, line);

cout << line << endl; // Output: Hello, File!

inFile.close();

```

---

## **10. Error Handling**

```cpp

#include <stdexcept>

try {

int age = -5;

if (age < 0) throw invalid_argument("Age cannot be negative!");

} catch (const exception& e) {

cout << "Error: " << e.what() << endl;

```
---

## **11. Standard Template Library (STL)**

- **Vector (Dynamic Array)**:

```cpp

#include <vector>

vector<int> nums = {1, 2, 3};

nums.push_back(4);

```

- **Map (Key-Value Pairs)**:

```cpp

#include <map>

map<string, int> ages = {{"Alice", 25}, {"Bob", 30}};

cout << ages["Alice"] << endl; // Output: 25

```

---

## **12. Next Steps**

- **Practice**: Solve problems on [Codeforces](https://codeforces.com/),

- **Projects**: Build a calculator, game (e.g., Tic-Tac-Toe), or a simple database.

- **Explore Advanced Topics**:

- **Memory Management**: Smart pointers (`unique_ptr`, `shared_ptr`)

- **Multithreading**: `<thread>` library

- **Graphics**: OpenGL, SFML

---

### **Conclusion**

C++ is a powerful language widely used in performance-critical applications. This guide covers
the fundamentals, but mastering C++ requires hands-on practice and exploration of advanced
concepts. Happy coding! 🚀💻