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C++ Tutorial

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https://cpp-tutorial.vercel.app/

A comprehensive guide to C++ syntax and the Standard Template Library (STL). The tutorial covers core language fundamentals including type systems, loops, structures, and object-oriented programming (encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism), as well as advanced topics like Lambda expressions, closures, higher-order functions, and C++20 Ranges and STL algorithms.

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What's inside C++ Tutorial

  1. Overview of the C++ Standard Template Library (STL) Components

    The STL is a core part of the C++ Standard Library consisting of three main components: Containers, Iterators, and Algorithms.

    1. Containers: Tools for storing data, categorized into:
      • Sequence Containers (5 types): Maintain a controllable order of elements.
      • Associative Containers (8 types): Optimized for fast lookup.
      • Container Adapters (3 types): Modify container interfaces to implement specific data structures.
    2. Iterators: Provide a standardized way to access container elements, acting similarly to pointers in an array. A type is considered an iterator if it meets specific requirements (e.g., readable, incrementable, decrementable, random access, continuous storage).
    3. Algorithms: (Mentioned as a core component of STL).

  2. Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) in C++

    Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) is a paradigm designed to simulate real-world entities to solve complex problems more effectively than procedural programming. While procedural programming focuses on a sequence of function calls and often relies on global variables or pointers for data management—which can make maintenance difficult as requirements change—OOP encapsulates data and the operations that act upon that data into objects.

  3. Overview of std::tuple

    std::tuple is a class template (specifically a variadic template) that represents a fixed-size collection of values of potentially different types. It can be thought of as an unnamed structure where elements are accessed by index rather than by name. An empty tuple std::tuple<> represents the unit type (1-type).
    using ProductType = std::tuple<unsigned, bool>;
ProductType t;

  4. Introduction to the C++17 Filesystem Library

    C++17 introduced the <filesystem> library to simplify file system operations (creating, deleting, copying files or directories). All entities are located in the std::filesystem namespace. It is common practice to use a namespace alias like namespace fs = std::filesystem; for brevity.
    #include <filesystem>
namespace fs = std::filesystem;

  5. Overview of C++ style type casting operators

    C++ provides four specific casting operators to replace C-style casts. These operators categorize casts by their risk level and intent, making the code more maintainable and explicit about the programmer's intentions.
    // C-style cast
(double)a;

// C++ style cast
static_cast<double>(a);

  6. Understand C++ Variables

    In C++, a variable represents a specific region of computer storage. Every variable must have a type (which determines what kind of data it can hold) and a name (used to refer to that storage). The data stored within this space is referred to as the variable's value. Unlike mathematical variables, C++ variables are not always mutable; in some cases, their values cannot be changed.

  7. Understand the Output Iterator concept

    An Output Iterator is a specific iterator category required by algorithms like rg::copy for the destination parameter. To qualify as an output iterator, the type must support:

    1. Incrementing (++dest)
    2. Dereferencing and assignment (*dest = value)

    Unlike other iterator types, it specifically requires the ability to assign a value to the dereferenced position, but does not necessarily need to support reading from that position.

  8. Understand the motivation for using Linked Lists over Arrays

    Arrays require shifting all subsequent elements when deleting or inserting an element, which results in poor performance (O(n) time complexity) for large arrays. Linked lists solve this by using pointers to connect elements, allowing for much faster insertions and deletions since no elements need to be shifted in memory.
    /**
 * Example of inefficient array element deletion
 * requiring shifting of all subsequent elements
 */
void deleteElement(int* arr, unsigned int size, int index) {
    for(int i{index + 1}; i < size; i++) {
        arr[i - 1] = arr[i];
    }
}

  9. Understand C++ expressions and their components

    An expression in C++ is a sequence of text that specifies a computation for the computer to perform. Expressions are categorized into two types: primary expressions (such as variables or literals) and non-primary expressions, which consist of operators and operands.

    • Operator: Specifies the type of operation to be performed (e.g., + for addition).
    • Operand: Specifies the objects being operated upon. Operands can be variables, literals, or other expressions.

    Crucially, every non-empty expression produces a result, often referred to as the expression's value or return value.

    int a{0};
1 + 2;     // Literals 1 and 2 are operands
a + 2;     // Variable a and literal 2 are operands
1 + 1 + 2; // Expression (1 + 1) and literal 2 are operands

  10. Understand C++20 STL Ranges algorithms (STLv2)

    C++20 introduced a significant update to STL algorithms, splitting them into two versions: Legacy and Constrained (STLv2). Legacy algorithms are located in the std namespace, while Constrained algorithms are located in the std::ranges namespace. Constrained algorithms are generally easier to use as they can operate directly on containers rather than requiring explicit iterator pairs.

  11. Understand Procedural Programming and Functions in C++

    Procedural programming in C++ is centered around defining a sequence of instructions called 'procedures,' which are implemented as functions. Each function typically handles a specific part of the program (the function body), accepting arguments from the caller and optionally returning a value. The main function serves as the entry point for the execution of any C++ program.

  12. C++ Tutorial scope and curriculum structure

    This documentation focuses exclusively on C++ syntax. It does not cover algorithm design or computer systems; algorithms mentioned are used only as examples. The content is structured as follows:

    • Chapter 0: Basic computer knowledge overview.
    • Chapters 1-4: C language knowledge taught via C++ syntax.
    • Chapters 5-8: Practical C++ Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) syntax.
    • Chapters 9-10: Essential C++ related knowledge.
    • Chapters 11+: Advanced C++ syntax, including functional programming.