Your First C++ Language Program

In the previous article, we installed and setup our environment for C++ programming. Now, let's take the next step by writing our very first C++ language program, the very famous "Hello World" program

Breaking Down the "Hello World" Program

I will now break down the program and explain the source code.

1. Comments in C++

The first line is what you call a comment.

Comments are usually used to explain the code that is written. The comments are not run, when the program is executed. There can be other reasons for using comments in a program. Comments can be used to improve the readability of code, especially in large projects where complex algorithms or functions are involved. They can also help during debugging by allowing you to temporarily disable parts of the code without deleting them. In team environments, comments help developers understand each other's code, ensuring smoother collaboration.

2. Including Libraries

The next line is how you include or import libraries into your program. The line #include <iostream> includes the input-output stream library into our program. We need this library to print something in our program.

3. Using the Standard Namespace

The line using namespace std is written for using the std namespace. The Standard Library in C++ (which includes things like cout, cin, string, vector, etc.) is part of the std namespace. A namespace is a way to organize code into logical groups and prevent name conflicts.

4. The Main Function

Next comes the main function, int main() {}. A function is a block of code. The main function is where the program starts its execution.

5. Printing to the Console

Then comes the line where all the magic happens. The line cout << "Hello World!" << endl; is what prints "Hello World!" on the console screen as the output of our program.

6. The Return Statement

Finally, the last line is the return statement return 0; in a C++ program, it indicates a successful program termination when your program reaches its end. The return value becomes the program's exit status that is reported to the operating system. An exit status of 0 indicates everything worked correctly, while any non-zero value indicates an error occurred.

Running the Program

To run the program in Visual Studio:

1. Press Ctrl + F5.
2. A console window will appear, displaying the output: Hello World!

Congratulations!

You have successfully written and run your first C++ program. This is just the beginning of your C++ programming adventures. Stay motivated, keep experimenting, and keep learning

Stay Motivated, Keep Experimenting, and Keep Learning

Happy Coding! ????

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