4/11/26, 4:27 PM C++ Basic Syntax
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C++ Basic Syntax
When we consider a C++ program, it can be defined as a collection of objects that
communicate via invoking each other's methods. Let us now briefly look into what a class,
object, method, and instance variable mean.
Object − Objects have states and behaviors. Example: A dog has states (color,
name, breed) as well as behaviors (wagging, barking, eating). An object is an
instance of a class.
Class − A class can be defined as a template/blueprint that describes the behaviors
or states that object of its type supports.
Methods − A method is basically a behavior. A class can contain many methods. It
is in methods where the logics are written, data is manipulated, and all the actions
are executed.
Instance Variables − Each object has its own unique set of instance variables. An
object's state is created by the values assigned to these instance variables.
C++ Program Structure
The basic structure of a C++ program consists of the following parts:
Header file inclusion section: This is the section where we include all required
header files whose functions we are going to use in the program.
Namespace section: This is the section where we use the namespace.
The main() section: In this section, we write our main code. The main() function
is an entry point of any C++ programming code from where the program's
execution starts.
To learn more about it, read: C++ Hello, World Program.
Example
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Let us look at a simple code that would print the words Hello World.
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
// main() is where program execution begins.
int main() {
cout << "Hello World"; // prints Hello World
return 0;
}
Example Explanation
Let us look at the various parts of the above program −
The C++ language defines several headers, which contain information that is either
necessary or useful to your program. For this program, the header <iostream> is
needed.
The line using namespace std; tells the compiler to use the std namespace.
Namespaces are a relatively recent addition to C++.
The next line '// main() is where program execution begins.' is a single-line
comment available in C++. Single-line comments begin with // and stop at the end
of the line.
The line int main() is the main function where program execution begins.
The next line cout << "Hello World"; causes the message "Hello World" to be
displayed on the screen.
The next line return 0; terminates main() function and causes it to return the value
0 to the calling process.
Compile and Execute C++ Program
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Let's look at how to save the file, compile and run the program. Please follow the steps
given below −
Open a text editor and add the code as above.
Save the file as: [Link]
Open a command prompt and go to the directory where you saved the file.
Type 'g++ [Link]' and press enter to compile your code. If there are no errors in
your code the command prompt will take you to the next line and would generate
[Link] executable file.
Now, type '[Link]' to run your program.
You will be able to see ' Hello World ' printed on the window.
$ g++ [Link]
$ ./[Link]
Hello World
Make sure that g++ is in your path and that you are running it in the directory containing
file [Link].
You can compile C/C++ programs using makefile. For more details, you can check our
'Makefile Tutorial'.
Semicolons and Blocks in C++
In C++, the semicolon is a statement terminator. That is, each individual statement must
be ended with a semicolon. It indicates the end of one logical entity.
For example, following are three different statements −
x = y;
y = y + 1;
add(x, y);
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A block is a set of logically connected statements that are surrounded by opening and
closing braces. For example −
{
cout << "Hello World"; // prints Hello World
return 0;
}
C++ does not recognize the end of the line as a terminator. For this reason, it does not
matter where you put a statement in a line. For example −
x = y;
y = y + 1;
add(x, y);
is the same as
x = y; y = y + 1; add(x, y);
C++ Identifiers
A C++ identifier is a name used to identify a variable, function, class, module, or any
other user-defined item. An identifier starts with a letter A to Z or a to z or an underscore
(_) followed by zero or more letters, underscores, and digits (0 to 9).
C++ does not allow punctuation characters such as @, $, and % within identifiers. C++ is
a case-sensitive programming language. Thus, Manpower and manpower are two
different identifiers in C++.
Here are some examples of acceptable identifiers −
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mohd zara abc move_name a_123
myname50 _temp j a23b9 retVal
C++ Keywords
The following list shows the reserved words in C++. These reserved words may not be
used as constant or variable or any other identifier names.
asm else new this
auto enum operator throw
bool explicit private true
break export protected try
case extern public typedef
catch false register typeid
char float reinterpret_cast typename
class for return union
const friend short unsigned
const_cast goto signed using
continue if sizeof virtual
default inline static void
delete int static_cast volatile
do long struct wchar_t
double mutable switch while
dynamic_cast namespace template
Trigraphs
A few characters have an alternative representation, called a trigraph sequence. A trigraph
is a three-character sequence that represents a single character and the sequence always
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starts with two question marks.
Trigraphs are expanded anywhere they appear, including within string literals and
character literals, in comments, and in preprocessor directives.
Following are most frequently used trigraph sequences −
Trigraph Replacement
??= #
??/ \
??' ^
??( [
??) ]
??! |
??< {
??> }
??- ~
All the compilers do not support trigraphs and they are not advised to be used because of
their confusing nature.
Whitespace in C++
A line containing only whitespace, possibly with a comment, is known as a blank line, and
C++ compiler totally ignores it.
Whitespace is the term used in C++ to describe blanks, tabs, newline characters and
comments. Whitespace separates one part of a statement from another and enables the
compiler to identify where one element in a statement, such as int, ends and the next
element begins.
Statement 1
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int age;
In the above statement there must be at least one whitespace character (usually a space)
between int and age for the compiler to be able to distinguish them.
Statement 2
fruit = apples + oranges; // Get the total fruit
In the above statement 2, no whitespace characters are necessary between fruit and =, or
between = and apples, although you are free to include some if you wish for readability
purpose.
C++ Program Structure with Object-oriented Approach
C++ also supports the object-oriented programming approach along with the procedural
programming approach.
Example
This example demonstrates the C++ program based on an object-oriented approach.
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
class Numbers {
private:
int a;
int b;
public:
// Function to set values
void setValues(int x, int y) {
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a = x;
b = y;
}
// Function to add these numbers
double addition() { return a + b; }
// Function to display values
void display() { cout << "a: " << a << ", b: " << b << endl; }
};
int main() {
// Create an object of Numbers class
Numbers num;
// Set values
[Link](10, 20);
// Display the values
[Link]();
// Find the addition
int sum = [Link]();
cout << "Sum of numbers: " << sum << endl;
return 0;
}
Parts of C++ Program Structure with Object-oriented
Approach
The different parts of the C++ program structure with an object-oriented approach are as
follows:
1. Class Declaration
A class is a template for an object, or we can say a class is a factory to produce an
object. It is a kind of custom data type, where you construct a structure for an object.
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A class declaration has the following parts:
Access modifiers: C++ supports three types of access modifiers: private, public,
and protected. Accessibilities of the data members and member functions are
defined by the access modifiers.
Data members and member functions: The variables used in the class declaration
are known as data members, and the member functions are those functions that work
on the data members.
Example
As per the above example, the following part of the declaration of a class –
class Numbers {
private:
int a;
int b;
public:
// Function to set values
void setValues(int x, int y) {
a = x;
b = y;
}
// Function to add these numbers
double addition() { return a + b; }
// Function to display values
void display() { cout << "a: " << a << ", b: " << b << endl; }
};
The following are the data members which are defined under the private access modifier
i.e., these data members can be used by the member functions within the class –
private:
int a;
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int b;
The following are the member functions used in the class –
void setValues(int x, int y);
double addition();
void display();
2. Object Creation
In the above example, the following statement is the object creation statement −
Numbers num;
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