CPP Basic Syntax
CPP Basic Syntax
When we consider a C++ prog ram, it can be defined as a collection of objects that communicate via invoking
each other's methods. Let us now briefly look into what do class, object, methods and instant variables mean.
O bjec t - Objects have states and behaviors. Example: A dog has states - color, name, breed as well as
behaviors - wag g ing , barking , eating . An object is an instance of a class.
Class - A class can be defined as a template/blueprint that describes the behaviors/states that object of
its type support.
Methods - A method is basically a behavior. A class can contain many methods. It is in methods where the
log ics are written, data is manipulated and all the actions are executed.
Instant Variables - Each object has its unique set of instant variables. An object's state is created by
the values assig ned to these instant variables.
Make sure that g ++ is in your path and that you are running it in the directory containing file hello.cpp.
You can compile C/C++ prog rams using makefile. For more details, you can check Makefile T utorial.
A block is a set of log ically connected statements that are surrounded by opening and closing braces. For
example:
{
cout << "Hello World"; // prints Hello World
return 0;
}
C++ does not recog nize the end of the line as a terminator. For this reason, it does not matter where on a line
you put a statement. 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 dig its (0 to 9).
C++ does not allow punctuation characters such as @, $, and % within identifiers. C++ is a case-sensitive
prog ramming lang uag e. T hus, Manpower and manpower are two different identifiers in C++.
Here are some examples of acceptable identifiers:
mohd
myname50
zara
_temp
abc
j
move_name
a23b9
a_123
retVal
C++ Keywords:
T he following list shows the reserved words in C++. T hese 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
reg ister
typeid
char
float
reinterpret_cast
typename
class
for
return
union
const
friend
short
unsig ned
const_cast
g oto
sig ned
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
Trig raphs:
A few characters have an alternative representation, called a trig raph sequence. A trig raph is a three-character
sequence that represents a sing le character and the sequence always starts with two question marks.
T rig raphs are expanded anywhere they appear, including within string literals and character literals, in
comments, and in preprocessor directives.
Following are most frequently used trig raph sequences:
T rig raph
Replac ement
??=
??/
??'
??(
??)
??!
??<
??>
??-
All the compilers do not support trig raphs 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
ig nores 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 beg ins. T herefore, in the statement,
int age;
there must be at least one whitespace character (usually a space) between int and ag e for the compiler to be able
to disting uish them. On the other hand, in the statement
fruit = apples + oranges;
no whitespace characters are necessary between fruit and =, or between = and apples, althoug h you are free to
include some if you wish for readability purpose.