C++ Programming Cheat Sheet — Complete Syntax, OOP Concepts, and Examples for Beginners

Table of Contents:

C++ Programming Language Cheat Sheet (Complete Syntax, OOP Concepts, and Examples)

C++ Programming Language Cheat Sheet — Complete Reference for Developers

C++ is a high-performance, general-purpose programming language developed by Bjarne Stroustrup as an extension of C. It supports object-oriented programming (OOP), templates, and Standard Template Library (STL) — making it one of the most versatile languages for software, game, and system development.

This C++ Cheatsheet provides an easy-to-follow, structured overview of all the key syntax, features, and examples you need to become proficient in C++ programming.

C++ Basics for Beginners

Concept	Details	Example
File Extension	`.cpp`	`main.cpp`
Compiler	GCC, Turbo C++, Clang	`g++ main.cpp -o main`
Execution	Run compiled file	`./main`
Header File	Preprocessor directives	`#include <iostream>`
Namespace	Avoids naming conflicts	`using namespace std;`

Example:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
    cout << "Hello, C++ World!";
    return 0;
}

Data Types and Variables in C++

Type	Keyword	Size (bytes)	Example
Integer	`int`	4	`int age = 25;`
Floating-point	`float`, `double`	4 / 8	`double pi = 3.1416;`
Character	`char`	1	`char grade = 'A';`
Boolean	`bool`	1	`bool isValid = true;`
String	`string`	Variable	`string name = "John";`

C++ Operators

Type	Operators	Example
Arithmetic	`+ - * / %`	`x + y`
Relational	`== != > < >= <=`	`if (a > b)`
Logical	`&&
Assignment	`= += -= *= /=`	`a += 10`
Bitwise	`&	^ ~ << >>`
Ternary	`? :`	`result = (a > b) ? a : b;`

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Input and Output in C++

C++ replaces the old scanf and printf with stream-based I/O.

Example:

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main() {
    int age;
    cout << "Enter your age: ";
    cin >> age;
    cout << "You are " << age << " years old.";
    return 0;
}

Conditional Statements

Type	Syntax	Example
if	`if (condition)`	`if(x>0){}`
if-else	`if (condition) else`	`if(a>b) cout<<a; else cout<<b;`
else-if ladder	Multiple conditions	`if(x>0)... else if(x<0)... else...`
switch	`switch(expression)`	`switch(choice) { case 1: break; }`

Loops in C++

Type	Syntax	Example
for	`for(init; condition; inc)`	`for(int i=0;i<5;i++)`
while	`while(condition)`	`while(i<10)`
do-while	`do{ }while(condition);`	Executes once before checking

Example:

for(int i = 1; i <= 5; i++) {
    cout << i << " ";
}

Functions in C++

Type	Syntax	Example
No return	`void greet()`	`void greet() { cout<<"Hi"; }`
With return	`int sum(int a, int b)`	`return a+b;`
Inline Function	`inline int square(int x)`	Small reusable code
Default Argument	`int add(int a, int b=5)`	Optional parameters

Example:

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

Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) Concepts in C++

Concept	Description	Example
Class	Blueprint of objects	`class Car { };`
Object	Instance of a class	`Car c1;`
Encapsulation	Data hiding	`private:` keyword
Inheritance	Reusing base class	`class Child : public Parent`
Polymorphism	Same name, different behavior	`virtual void show()`
Abstraction	Hiding implementation details	Using abstract classes
Constructor/Destructor	Initialize or cleanup	`Car() {}`, `~Car()`

Example:

class Student {
    string name;
public:
    Student(string n) { name = n; }
    void display() { cout << "Name: " << name; }
};

int main() {
    Student s("Alice");
    s.display();
}

Arrays and Strings in C++

Array Example:

int marks[5] = {85, 90, 75, 88, 92};
for(int i=0; i<5; i++)
    cout << marks[i] << " ";

String Example:

string name = "C++ Programming";
cout << "Length: " << name.length();

Pointers in C++

Concept	Description	Example
Pointer Declaration	`int *ptr;`	Stores address
Address-of	`&variable`	Gives memory address
Dereference	`*ptr`	Access value

Example:

int num = 10;
int *ptr = &num;
cout << *ptr; // Output: 10

File Handling in C++

Mode	Meaning
`ios::in`	Read mode
`ios::out`	Write mode
`ios::app`	Append mode

Example:

#include <fstream>
ofstream file("data.txt");
file << "Hello C++";
file.close();

STL (Standard Template Library)

Component	Example	Purpose
Vector	`vector<int> v;`	Dynamic array
Map	`map<int,string> m;`	Key-value pair
Set	`set<int> s;`	Unique elements
Stack	`stack<int> s;`	LIFO
Queue	`queue<int> q;`	FIFO

Templates in C++

Example:

template <class T>
T add(T a, T b) {
    return a + b;
}

Usage:
Templates enable generic programming, allowing code reusability for multiple data types.

Exception Handling in C++

Example:

try {
    int x = 0;
    if(x == 0)
        throw "Division by zero!";
}
catch(const char* msg) {
    cout << msg;
}

FAQ — C++ Programming Language

Q1: What makes C++ different from C?
C++ adds Object-Oriented Programming, templates, and STL to the base C language.

Q2: Is C++ good for beginners?
Yes, it’s one of the best languages to understand low-level and high-level programming concepts.

Q3: What are real-world uses of C++?
Game engines, desktop applications, operating systems, and browsers use C++.

Q4: Which compiler should I use?
Use GCC, Clang, or Visual Studio for development.

Q5: Can I run C++ online?
Yes, use the PHPOnline C++ Compiler to run C++ programs instantly.