What is C++?
Bjarne Stroustrup developed the C++ programming language at Bell Labs around 1980. It is an object-oriented, general-purpose programming language. The C programming language, created by Dennis Ritchie in the early 1970s, is very similar to C++. Because C++ and C are so similar, over 99% of C programs can be compiled using C++ without changing a single line of source code. Despite being OOPs-based, C++ is a much better-structured and safer language than C.
Some computer programming languages are developed with a particular goal in mind. C, like Java, was initially designed for operating system (OS) programming. C++, on the other hand, is a general-purpose language. It is rightly known as the “Swiss Pocket Knife of Languages.” So we can look into the details of the C++ programming language in this article.
Features of C++ Language
The C++ programming language is an improved version of the C programming language. Therefore, it includes several new upgrades and features, including the namespace feature, operator overloading, error and exception handling, and many others listed below.
- Object Oriented
- Simple
- Platform Dependent
- Mid-level programming language
- Structured programming language
- Rich Library
- Memory Management
- Powerful & Fast
- Pointers
- Compiler based
- Syntax based language
Reasons to Learn C++ Language
C++ has been a programming language used in many software problems and projects for about 40 years. C++ is a top programming language and is preferred for creating high-performance software. You can read more about the C++ programming language and explore the main reasons to learn it.
- Career Opportunities
- Efficient and Fast Language
- Suitable for Big Projects
- Community Support of C++
- High Salary Packages
1. Career Opportunities
Many programming languages are said to have their roots in C++. If you are interested in computer science, it is one of the fundamental languages you need to know. Every successful programmer or software developer is likely familiar with the fundamental concepts of C++.
- Numerous job opportunities require the C++ programming language.
- Due to its flexibility, C++ is in high demand among professionals, including software developers, game developers, C++ analysts, backend developers, etc.
- Because C++ is an old language with a lot of code written, the career or job opportunities for C++ programmers are vast.
2. Efficient and Fast Language
Programming techniques like functional, procedural, and object-oriented programming are all supported by the advanced language C++.
- It is a quick language with faster execution and compilation time than other programming languages.
- Other programming languages can be quicker than C++. Still, large organizations rely on C++ because it is fast and uses fewer resources than other languages.
3. Suitable for Big Projects
For large projects, C++ is the best programming language. C++ is used in many projects, including compilers, cloud storage systems, databases, game development, graphic design, etc. Also, it can be used for 3D visual projects, which require efficiently controlling large amounts of data. C++ is also used in many applications and softwares you use daily.
- For example, Spotify’s backend code is written in C++.
- It is no secret that YouTube uses C++ for video processing functions.
- Likewise, Amazon’s application was written in C++. However, it has changed over time, and more software is now developed using C++.
4. Community Support of C++
Since most programmers study and learn C++, the language enjoys strong support from the programming community. Because of the large C++ community, learning this language will be easier and more flexible. Many programmers and experts are on various platforms creating C++ resources if someone needs help or guidance with C++.
5. High Salary Packages
Reputable companies like Facebook, Google, and others value C++ and pay their developers handsome salaries to work on their products. The pay for both beginning and seasoned C++ developers typically varies among organizations. Because learning C++ typically requires some time, an entry-level C++ developer’s pay in the early years is average. The salary package increases quickly after 3 to 4 years of experience, which is a good reason to learn C++.
Drawbacks of C++ Programming Language
Here is a list of major drawbacks of the C++ language that will be worth knowing while using it for programming.
- Difficult for Newbies
- Usage of Pointers
- Security Issues
- Manual Memory Management
- Unable to Support Built-in Code Threads
1. Difficult for Newbies
The main disadvantage of C++ is that it is a difficult programming language to learn. For newbies who are unfamiliar with any other object-oriented programming languages, it can take a long time to understand, limiting what you can do.
Many people see this difficulty as a disadvantage, as C++ is difficult to learn unless you’re an experienced programmer, so it’s often overlooked in favor of other, simpler languages.
2. Usage of Pointers
One of the key characteristics that sets C++ apart from other programming languages is the use of pointers. While these are very useful, they can consume a lot of system memory, which is not ideal when working on large projects. Pointers can also be difficult to understand. Using them incorrectly can cause your entire system to crash or behave strangely, which is a major disadvantage.
3. Security Issues
Because of features like pointers, friend functions, and global variables, using an object-oriented programming language like C++ has some security problems.
4. Manual Memory Management
Even though many people view having control over memory management as a benefit, manually allocating memory using pointers can be time-consuming and easy to forget when you are in the middle of coding. If you’re not used to it, manual memory management is a major disadvantage of C++ because there is no automatic garbage collector feature to filter out unnecessary data.
5. Unable to Support Built-in Code Threads
Built-in code threads cannot be supported by C++ when you are coding. It is a major disadvantage because most other languages have this feature, making your process much slower and more difficult.
So in this article, we discussed the C++ programming language, its features, reasons to learn it, and some of the major challenges. It will continue to be in high demand because it is one of the standard languages used in back-end development and because of its dependability, performance, and efficiency.
