# Learning C++ Programming from Scratch

Welcome to your C++ programming journey! I'll guide you from the very basics to more advanced
concepts in a structured way.

## Table of Contents

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

2. [Setting Up Your Environment](#setup)

3. [Basic Syntax](#basic-syntax)

4. [Variables and Data Types](#variables)

5. [Operators](#operators)

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

7. [Functions](#functions)

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

9. [Pointers](#pointers)

10. [Object-Oriented Programming](#oop)

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

## 1. Introduction to C++ <a name="introduction"></a>

C++ is a powerful, high-performance programming language created by Bjarne Stroustrup in 1985 as an

- System/software development

- Game development

- Embedded systems

- High-performance applications
Key features:

- Object-oriented

- Compiled language

- Rich standard library

- Memory management control

## 2. Setting Up Your Environment <a name="setup"></a>

To start coding in C++, you'll need:

1. A text editor (VS Code, Sublime Text, etc.)

2. A C++ compiler (G++, Clang, or MSVC)

### Installation Options:

- **Windows**: Install MinGW or Visual Studio

- **Mac**: Install Xcode command line tools

- **Linux**: Use package manager (`sudo apt install g++` on Ubuntu)

### Your First Program

Create a file named `hello.cpp`:

```cpp

#include <iostream>

int main() {
 std::cout << "Hello, World!" << std::endl;

return 0;

```

Compile and run:

```bash

g++ hello.cpp -o hello

./hello

```

## 3. Basic Syntax <a name="basic-syntax"></a>

- `#include <iostream>`: Includes the input/output library

- `int main()`: The main function where execution begins

- `std::cout`: Standard output stream

- `<<`: Insertion operator

- `std::endl`: End line (newline + flush)

- `return 0;`: Indicates successful execution

## 4. Variables and Data Types <a name="variables"></a>

### Fundamental Data Types:

- `int`: Integer (4 bytes typically)

- `float`: Single-precision floating point (4 bytes)

- `char`: Single character (1 byte)

- `bool`: Boolean (true/false)

### Variable Declaration:

```cpp

int age = 25;

float price = 19.99;

char grade = 'A';

bool is_valid = true;

```

### Constants:

```cpp

const double PI = 3.14159;

```

## 5. Operators <a name="operators"></a>

### Arithmetic Operators:

```cpp

int a = 10, b = 3;

int sum = a + b; // 13

int diff = a - b; // 7

int prod = a * b; // 30
int quot = a / b; // 3 (integer division)

int rem = a % b; // 1 (modulus)

```

### Relational Operators:

```cpp

bool isEqual = (a == b); // false

bool isNotEqual = (a != b); // true

bool isGreater = (a > b); // true

```

### Logical Operators:

```cpp

bool result = (true && false); // AND - false

result = (true || false); // OR - true

result = !true; // NOT - false

```

## 6. Control Structures <a name="control-structures"></a>

### If-Else:

```cpp

int num = 10;

if (num > 0) {

std::cout << "Positive";

std::cout << "Negative";

} else {

std::cout << "Zero";

```

### Switch:

```cpp

char grade = 'B';

switch(grade) {

case 'A':

std::cout << "Excellent";

break;

case 'B':

std::cout << "Good";

break;

default:

std::cout << "Invalid grade";

```

### Loops:

**While loop:**
```cpp

int i = 0;

while (i < 5) {

std::cout << i << " ";

i++;

// Output: 0 1 2 3 4

```

**For loop:**

```cpp

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

std::cout << i << " ";

// Output: 0 1 2 3 4

```

## 7. Functions <a name="functions"></a>

### Function Definition:

```cpp

int add(int a, int b) {

return a + b;

```
### Function Call:

```cpp

int result = add(5, 3); // result = 8

```

### Function Prototype (Declaration):

```cpp

int multiply(int a, int b); // Declaration

int main() {

int r = multiply(4, 5);

return 0;

// Definition

int multiply(int a, int b) {

return a * b;

```

## 8. Arrays and Strings <a name="arrays-strings"></a>

### Arrays:

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

numbers[0] = 10; // Modify first element

// Access elements

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

std::cout << numbers[i] << " ";

```

### Strings:

```cpp

#include <string>

std::string greeting = "Hello";

greeting += " World!"; // Concatenation

std::cout << greeting.length(); // 12

std::cout << greeting[0]; // 'H'

```

## 9. Pointers <a name="pointers"></a>

Pointers store memory addresses.

```cpp
int var = 5;

int* ptr = &var; // ptr holds address of var

std::cout << var; // 5 (value)

std::cout << &var; // address of var

std::cout << ptr; // same address

std::cout << *ptr; // 5 (dereferencing)

```

## 10. Object-Oriented Programming <a name="oop"></a>

### Class Definition:

```cpp

class Rectangle {

private:

int width, height;

public:

// Constructor

Rectangle(int w, int h) : width(w), height(h) {}

// Method

int area() {

return width * height;

}
};

```

### Creating Objects:

```cpp

Rectangle rect(3, 4);

std::cout << rect.area(); // 12

```

## 11. Next Steps <a name="next-steps"></a>

Now that you've learned the basics, here's what to explore next:

1. Standard Template Library (STL)

2. File I/O operations

3. Exception handling

4. Templates

5. Smart pointers

6. Multithreading

### Practice Exercise:

Create a program that:

1. Asks for user's name and age

2. Stores this information in variables

3. Prints a greeting with their name

4. Calculates and prints the year they were born

#include <iostream>

#include <string>

#include <ctime>

int main() {

std::string name;

int age;

int current_year = 2023; // Or get current year dynamically

std::cout << "Enter your name: ";

std::getline(std::cin, name);

std::cout << "Enter your age: ";

std::cin >> age;

int birth_year = current_year - age;

std::cout << "Hello, " << name << "! You were born in " << birth_year << std::endl;

return 0;

```
Remember, the key to learning programming is consistent practice. Start with small programs and
gradually increase complexity. Happy coding!