Languages

C++

C plus plus

Object-Oriented Language

Citation Formats

General Reference

Computing Atlas. "C++." Accessed August 30, 2026. https://computing.interactiveatlas.org/languages/cpp.

APA Style

Computing Atlas. (n.d.). C++. Retrieved August 30, 2026, from https://computing.interactiveatlas.org/languages/cpp

BibTeX

@misc{computingatlas-c,
  author = {Computing Atlas},
  title = {C++},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://computing.interactiveatlas.org/languages/cpp},
  note = {Accessed August 30, 2026}
}

C++ is a high-level, general-purpose programming language created by Danish computer scientist Bjarne Stroustrup and first released in 1985 as an extension of the C programming language, adding object-oriented features. It has since grown to support functional and generic programming, alongside both low-level memory manipulation and high-level abstraction, making it suited to systems programming, embedded software and performance-critical applications.

Facts

First Released

1985 1

Paradigm

Multi-paradigm: procedural, imperative, functional, object-oriented, generic, modular and reflective. 1

Significance

Extended C with object-oriented, generic and later functional programming facilities while retaining low-level memory control, making it a dominant language for systems programming, embedded software, game engines and performance-critical applications. 1

Cross-Tradition Connections

Sources

1. Wikipedia: C++

Wikimedia FoundationLead paragraph

Quote, Lead paragraph

C++ is a high-level, general-purpose programming language created by Danish computer scientist Bjarne Stroustrup.

View the Source

1. Wikipedia: C++

Wikimedia FoundationInfoboxView the Source

1. Wikipedia: C++

Wikimedia FoundationLead paragraph, on first release

Quote, Lead paragraph, on first release

First released in 1985 as an extension of the C programming language, adding object-oriented (OOP) features, it has since expanded significantly over time adding more OOP and other features.

View the Source

1. Wikipedia: C++

Wikimedia FoundationLead paragraph, on scopeView the Source

1. Wikipedia: C++

Wikimedia FoundationLead paragraph, title readingView the Source

1. Wikipedia: C++

Wikimedia FoundationIn Field: Software EngineeringView the Source

1. Wikipedia: C++

Wikimedia FoundationInfluenced By: C, Lead paragraph, on C extensionView the Source

Wikipedia: Bjarne Stroustrup

Wikimedia FoundationInvented By: Bjarne Stroustrup, Lead paragraph, on creationView the Source

Wikipedia: Java (programming language)