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C++ Programming Guide - From Basics to Advanced Concepts

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    Muhammad Huzaifa
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C++ Programming Guide - From Basics to Advanced Concepts

Welcome to this comprehensive C++ programming guide! Whether you're a beginner or looking to refresh your knowledge, this post covers everything from basic syntax to advanced concepts with practical examples.

Table of Contents

  1. Getting Started
  2. Basic Syntax
  3. Data Types and Variables
  4. Control Structures
  5. Functions
  6. Object-Oriented Programming
  7. Memory Management
  8. STL and Containers
  9. Advanced Concepts
  10. Best Practices

Getting Started

C++ is a powerful, general-purpose programming language that supports both procedural and object-oriented programming paradigms. It's widely used in system programming, game development, and high-performance applications.

Setting Up Your Environment

main.cpp
// Hello World Program
#include <iostream>

int main() {
    std::cout << "Hello, World!" << std::endl;
    return 0;
}

Basic Syntax

Comments and Basic Structure

main.cpp
// Single line comment
/* Multi-line comment */

#include <iostream>  // Include header files
using namespace std; // Use standard namespace

int main() {
    // Your code here
    return 0;
}

Data Types and Variables

Primitive Data Types

main.cpp
#include <iostream>
#include <string>

int main() {
    // Integer types
    int age = 25;
    short smallNumber = 100;
    long bigNumber = 1000000L;
    long long veryBigNumber = 1000000000LL;
    
    // Floating point types
    float price = 19.99f;
    double preciseValue = 3.14159265359;
    long double veryPrecise = 3.141592653589793238L;
    
    // Character types
    char grade = 'A';
    wchar_t wideChar = L'Ω';
    
    // Boolean
    bool isStudent = true;
    
    // String
    string name = "Muhammad Huzaifa";
    
    // Output
    cout << "Name: " << name << endl;
    cout << "Age: " << age << endl;
    cout << "Grade: " << grade << endl;
    cout << "Is Student: " << (isStudent ? "Yes" : "No") << endl;
    
    return 0;
}

Constants and Literals

main.cpp
#include <iostream>

int main() {
    // Constants
    const int MAX_SIZE = 100;
    const double PI = 3.14159;
    
    // Literals
    int decimal = 42;
    int octal = 052;      // Octal
    int hexadecimal = 0x2A; // Hexadecimal
    int binary = 0b101010; // Binary (C++14)
    
    cout << "Decimal: " << decimal << endl;
    cout << "Octal: " << octal << endl;
    cout << "Hexadecimal: " << hexadecimal << endl;
    cout << "Binary: " << binary << endl;
    
    return 0;
}

Control Structures

If-Else Statements

main.cpp
#include <iostream>

int main() {
    int score = 85;
    
    if (score >= 90) {
        cout << "Grade: A" << endl;
    } else if (score >= 80) {
        cout << "Grade: B" << endl;
    } else if (score >= 70) {
        cout << "Grade: C" << endl;
    } else if (score >= 60) {
        cout << "Grade: D" << endl;
    } else {
        cout << "Grade: F" << endl;
    }
    
    return 0;
}

Loops

main.cpp
#include <iostream>
#include <vector>

int main() {
    // For loop
    cout << "For loop:" << endl;
    for (int i = 1; i <= 5; i++) {
        cout << "Iteration " << i << endl;
    }
    
    // While loop
    cout << "\nWhile loop:" << endl;
    int count = 1;
    while (count <= 3) {
        cout << "Count: " << count << endl;
        count++;
    }
    
    // Do-while loop
    cout << "\nDo-while loop:" << endl;
    int num = 1;
    do {
        cout << "Number: " << num << endl;
        num++;
    } while (num <= 3);
    
    // Range-based for loop (C++11)
    cout << "\nRange-based for loop:" << endl;
    vector<int> numbers = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5};
    for (int num : numbers) {
        cout << "Value: " << num << endl;
    }
    
    return 0;
}

Switch Statement

main.cpp
#include <iostream>

int main() {
    char operation = '+';
    int a = 10, b = 5;
    int result;
    
    switch (operation) {
        case '+':
            result = a + b;
            cout << "Addition: " << result << endl;
            break;
        case '-':
            result = a - b;
            cout << "Subtraction: " << result << endl;
            break;
        case '*':
            result = a * b;
            cout << "Multiplication: " << result << endl;
            break;
        case '/':
            if (b != 0) {
                result = a / b;
                cout << "Division: " << result << endl;
            } else {
                cout << "Division by zero!" << endl;
            }
            break;
        default:
            cout << "Invalid operation!" << endl;
    }
    
    return 0;
}

Functions

Basic Functions

main.cpp
#include <iostream>
#include <cmath>

// Function declaration
int add(int a, int b);
double calculateCircleArea(double radius);
void printMessage(string message);

int main() {
    int sum = add(5, 3);
    cout << "Sum: " << sum << endl;
    
    double area = calculateCircleArea(5.0);
    cout << "Circle area: " << area << endl;
    
    printMessage("Hello from function!");
    
    return 0;
}

// Function definitions
int add(int a, int b) {
    return a + b;
}

double calculateCircleArea(double radius) {
    return 3.14159 * radius * radius;
}

void printMessage(string message) {
    cout << "Message: " << message << endl;
}

Function Overloading

main.cpp
#include <iostream>

// Function overloading
int multiply(int a, int b) {
    return a * b;
}

double multiply(double a, double b) {
    return a * b;
}

int multiply(int a, int b, int c) {
    return a * b * c;
}

int main() {
    cout << "Int multiplication: " << multiply(5, 3) << endl;
    cout << "Double multiplication: " << multiply(5.5, 3.2) << endl;
    cout << "Three numbers: " << multiply(2, 3, 4) << endl;
    
    return 0;
}

Object-Oriented Programming

Classes and Objects

main.cpp
#include <iostream>
#include <string>

class Student {
private:
    string name;
    int age;
    double gpa;
    
public:
    // Constructor
    Student(string n, int a, double g) : name(n), age(a), gpa(g) {}
    
    // Getter methods
    string getName() const { return name; }
    int getAge() const { return age; }
    double getGPA() const { return gpa; }
    
    // Setter methods
    void setName(string n) { name = n; }
    void setAge(int a) { age = a; }
    void setGPA(double g) { gpa = g; }
    
    // Method
    void displayInfo() const {
        cout << "Name: " << name << ", Age: " << age << ", GPA: " << gpa << endl;
    }
};

int main() {
    // Creating objects
    Student student1("Muhammad Huzaifa", 20, 3.8);
    Student student2("Ali Ahmed", 22, 3.5);
    
    // Using methods
    student1.displayInfo();
    student2.displayInfo();
    
    // Modifying data
    student1.setGPA(3.9);
    cout << "Updated GPA: " << student1.getGPA() << endl;
    
    return 0;
}

Inheritance

main.cpp
#include <iostream>
#include <string>

// Base class
class Person {
protected:
    string name;
    int age;
    
public:
    Person(string n, int a) : name(n), age(a) {}
    
    virtual void display() const {
        cout << "Name: " << name << ", Age: " << age << endl;
    }
    
    virtual ~Person() {} // Virtual destructor
};

// Derived class
class Employee : public Person {
private:
    string department;
    double salary;
    
public:
    Employee(string n, int a, string dept, double sal) 
        : Person(n, a), department(dept), salary(sal) {}
    
    void display() const override {
        cout << "Employee - Name: " << name << ", Age: " << age 
             << ", Department: " << department << ", Salary: $" << salary << endl;
    }
};

int main() {
    Person person("John Doe", 30);
    Employee employee("Jane Smith", 25, "IT", 50000);
    
    person.display();
    employee.display();
    
    return 0;
}

Memory Management

Dynamic Memory Allocation

main.cpp
#include <iostream>

int main() {
    // Dynamic allocation
    int* ptr = new int(42);
    cout << "Value: " << *ptr << endl;
    
    // Array allocation
    int size = 5;
    int* arr = new int[size];
    
    // Initialize array
    for (int i = 0; i < size; i++) {
        arr[i] = i * 2;
    }
    
    // Print array
    cout << "Array: ";
    for (int i = 0; i < size; i++) {
        cout << arr[i] << " ";
    }
    cout << endl;
    
    // Clean up memory
    delete ptr;
    delete[] arr;
    
    return 0;
}

Smart Pointers (C++11)

main.cpp
#include <iostream>
#include <memory>

int main() {
    // Unique pointer
    std::unique_ptr<int> ptr1 = std::make_unique<int>(42);
    cout << "Unique ptr value: " << *ptr1 << endl;
    
    // Shared pointer
    std::shared_ptr<int> ptr2 = std::make_shared<int>(100);
    std::shared_ptr<int> ptr3 = ptr2; // Shared ownership
    
    cout << "Shared ptr value: " << *ptr2 << endl;
    cout << "Reference count: " << ptr2.use_count() << endl;
    
    // Weak pointer
    std::weak_ptr<int> weakPtr = ptr2;
    if (auto locked = weakPtr.lock()) {
        cout << "Weak ptr value: " << *locked << endl;
    }
    
    return 0;
}

STL and Containers

Vector

main.cpp
#include <iostream>
#include <vector>
#include <algorithm>

int main() {
    // Creating vector
    vector<int> numbers = {5, 2, 8, 1, 9};
    
    // Adding elements
    numbers.push_back(7);
    numbers.insert(numbers.begin() + 2, 3);
    
    // Accessing elements
    cout << "First element: " << numbers[0] << endl;
    cout << "Last element: " << numbers.back() << endl;
    
    // Iterating
    cout << "Vector contents: ";
    for (int num : numbers) {
        cout << num << " ";
    }
    cout << endl;
    
    // Sorting
    sort(numbers.begin(), numbers.end());
    cout << "Sorted: ";
    for (int num : numbers) {
        cout << num << " ";
    }
    cout << endl;
    
    return 0;
}

Map and Set

main.cpp
#include <iostream>
#include <map>
#include <set>
#include <string>

int main() {
    // Map example
    map<string, int> ages;
    ages["Muhammad"] = 20;
    ages["Ali"] = 22;
    ages["Ahmed"] = 19;
    
    cout << "Ages:" << endl;
    for (const auto& pair : ages) {
        cout << pair.first << ": " << pair.second << endl;
    }
    
    // Set example
    set<int> uniqueNumbers = {5, 2, 8, 2, 5, 1};
    cout << "\nUnique numbers: ";
    for (int num : uniqueNumbers) {
        cout << num << " ";
    }
    cout << endl;
    
    return 0;
}

Advanced Concepts

Templates

main.cpp
#include <iostream>

// Function template
template<typename T>
T getMax(T a, T b) {
    return (a > b) ? a : b;
}

// Class template
template<typename T>
class Stack {
private:
    vector<T> elements;
    
public:
    void push(T element) {
        elements.push_back(element);
    }
    
    T pop() {
        if (elements.empty()) {
            throw runtime_error("Stack is empty!");
        }
        T element = elements.back();
        elements.pop_back();
        return element;
    }
    
    bool empty() const {
        return elements.empty();
    }
    
    size_t size() const {
        return elements.size();
    }
};

int main() {
    // Using function template
    cout << "Max of 5 and 3: " << getMax(5, 3) << endl;
    cout << "Max of 5.5 and 3.2: " << getMax(5.5, 3.2) << endl;
    
    // Using class template
    Stack<int> intStack;
    intStack.push(10);
    intStack.push(20);
    intStack.push(30);
    
    cout << "Stack size: " << intStack.size() << endl;
    cout << "Popped: " << intStack.pop() << endl;
    cout << "Popped: " << intStack.pop() << endl;
    
    return 0;
}

Lambda Expressions (C++11)

main.cpp
#include <iostream>
#include <vector>
#include <algorithm>

int main() {
    vector<int> numbers = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10};
    
    // Lambda to find even numbers
    auto isEven = [](int n) { return n % 2 == 0; };
    
    // Count even numbers
    int evenCount = count_if(numbers.begin(), numbers.end(), isEven);
    cout << "Even numbers count: " << evenCount << endl;
    
    // Lambda with capture
    int multiplier = 3;
    auto multiply = [multiplier](int n) { return n * multiplier; };
    
    cout << "Multiplied by 3: ";
    for (int num : numbers) {
        cout << multiply(num) << " ";
    }
    cout << endl;
    
    return 0;
}

Best Practices

1. Use const whenever possible

main.cpp
const int MAX_SIZE = 100;
const string COMPANY_NAME = "Tech Corp";

void printInfo(const string& name, const int& age) {
    cout << "Name: " << name << ", Age: " << age << endl;
}

2. Prefer references over pointers

main.cpp
void swap(int& a, int& b) {
    int temp = a;
    a = b;
    b = temp;
}

3. Use RAII (Resource Acquisition Is Initialization)

main.cpp
class FileHandler {
private:
    FILE* file;
    
public:
    FileHandler(const char* filename) {
        file = fopen(filename, "r");
    }
    
    ~FileHandler() {
        if (file) {
            fclose(file);
        }
    }
};

4. Use auto for type deduction

main.cpp
auto numbers = vector<int>{1, 2, 3, 4, 5};
auto it = numbers.begin();

Conclusion

C++ is a powerful language that offers both high-level abstractions and low-level control. This guide covered the fundamental concepts, but there's always more to learn. Practice regularly, work on projects, and don't hesitate to explore advanced topics like multithreading, networking, and graphics programming.

Next Steps

  1. Practice coding - Solve problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank
  2. Build projects - Create games, applications, or system tools
  3. Learn advanced topics - Multithreading, networking, graphics
  4. Read good code - Study open-source C++ projects
  5. Join communities - Engage with C++ developer communities

Happy coding! 🚀

Have questions about C++ programming? Feel free to reach out and let's discuss!

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