History Of C++ | Timeline (+Infographic), List Of Versions, & More

In this article, we will take a closer look at the history of C++ programming language, its origin, who invented C++, its importance, scope, etc. We'll also provide a comparison between C++ and some other popular programming languages. So let's get started!

A Brief Intro To C++ & Its History

Wondering when and why was the C++ programming language ever created? C++ is a general-purpose, middle-level programming language created by Danish computer scientist Bjarne Stroustrup in 1979 at Bell Laboratories (now Nokia Bell Labs) in the USA.

• A mid-level language like C++ combines features of both low-level (hardware-level) and high-level (user-oriented) programming languages, allowing developers to write both system-level and application-level software.
• The origin of C++ language lies in it being an extension of the C language, which was created in 1972 by Dennis Ritchie, also at Bell Labs (formerly AT&T Bell Labs). 
• While C was already popular for its efficiency in system programming and operating systems like UNIX, it lacked support for object-oriented programming (OOP)–a growing need in the software world.
• To fill this gap, Stroustrup began adding OOP features to C, such as classes, inheritance, and polymorphism, leading to what was first called “C with Classes.” This laid the foundation for what would soon become C++.
• Over time, C++ has grown into one of the most influential languages in the world, widely used in game development, embedded systems, finance, robotics, operating systems, and scientific computing. Its blend of performance, abstraction, and flexibility has made it a staple in both academia and industry.

The language has also evolved significantly through multiple standard versions to stay relevant in the modern software ecosystem. Let’s look at how C++ has progressed over the years.

The Detailed History & Timeline Of C++ (With Infographic)

Here is a timeline of the C++ programming language's evolution showcasing key milestones and how it has progressed over the years:

1979–The Origin/ Beginning

• Bjarne Stroustrup began developing “C with classes” (to be later known as C++) while working on his PhD at Bell Labs in 1979. 
• His goal was to create a dynamic language that would allow programmers to build complex systems with high-level abstractions while still providing low-level access to the hardware.
• For this, he combined C’s efficiency with Simula’s object-oriented features.

1983– Etymology of C++ & 1st Version Released

• Rick Mascitti coined the official name for C with classes, naming it C++.
• The name uses the increment operator (++), symbolizing an enhancement over C and new features.
• The first version of C++ was then released to the public in 1983.
• The features added in C++ (over and above C) included classes, objects, basic inheritance, inlining, default function arguments, strong type checking, const keyword, virtual functions, etc. 
• It quickly gained popularity amongst novice and experienced programmers alike. It was also adopted by many companies for software development.

Fun Fact: The widely known Bell Labs was originally named Bell Telephone Laboratories, then AT&T Bell Laboratories, and then Bell Labs Innovations. Currently, the labs are named after its present parent company – the Nokia Bell Labs.

1985– First C++ Book Published

• Bjarne Stroustrup released “The C++ Programming Langauge” book, which was a comprehensive guide to the languages.
• The book became the definitive guide to the language and helped to establish C++ as a mainstream programming language. Since then, there have been several major releases and standards of the language.

1989– The 2nd version of C++

• C++ 2.0 was released in 1989 with other OOP features like multiple inheritance, abstract classes, static member functions, and const correctness.

1990/91– Standardisation of C++ Begins (ANSI)

• The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and later the International Organisation of Standardization (ISO) set up a committee to standardize C++.
• This was to bring consistency across compilers and platforms.

1998– The 1st International Standard of C++ (C++ 98)

• The first international standard for C++ is published as ISO/IEC 14882:1998.
• It included additional features such as C++ templates, exceptions, namespaces, and the Standard Template Library (STL).
• This marked a major step toward modern, safer, and reusable C++ code.
• 2003 – C++03 Revision: This year saw a technical revision of C++98, addressing defects and clarifying ambiguities. 

2011– The Next Major Revision, Beginning of the “Modern C++” Revolusion

• This was a more advanced version of the language called C++ 11. 
• It dramatically improved code expressiveness and performance with powerful features like Auto keyword, Regex support, move semantics, range-based for loops, nullptr, smart pointers, lambda expressions, standard threading library, customary threading library, time library, etc. 

2014 to 2017– Refinement Versions

• The next two versions of C++, namely C++14 and C++17, were refinements of C++11.
• In that, C++14 (C++14 (ISO/IEC 14882:2014) added features like generic lambdas, return type deduction, and binary literals.
• And C++17 (ISO/IEC 14882:2017) saw the addition of usability features like if constexpr, structured bindings, filesystem library, parallel algorithms, std::optional, std::variant, etc.

2020– Major Update C++20

• One of the biggest updates since C++11, the version in 2020 ISO/IEC 14882:2020 (C++20), strengthened C++ for modern large-scale software.
• The features included many concepts, coroutines, ranges library, modules, three-way comparison operator (<=>), and many STL improvements.

Upcoming– C++23 (In progress)

As per many sources, the developers are working on making the language more consistent and expressive, with full adoption across compilers. We’ll have to wait and see what the new version will hold.

Importance Of C++

Listed below are a few points emphasizing the importance of C++:

• C++ is one of the most popular and important programming languages in the world, with a wide range of applications in many different industries.
• It is widely used for systems programming, gaming, finance, scientific computing, and robotics, among other areas. It’s especially useful in building complex software systems, where performance, efficiency, and reliability are crucial.
• One of its most valuable features is its ability to provide low-level access to hardware resources. This makes it an ideal language for developing system-level software, such as device drivers, operating systems, and embedded systems.
• It’s also a highly popular choice for scientific computing and is used to build high-performance numerical libraries and simulation tools.

Versions Of C++ Language

Any discussion on the history of C++ language is incomplete without a mention of various versions released so far. The table below provides a concise overview of the key developments in each major version of C++.

Structure Of A C++ Program

Now that you know all about the evolution of the C++ programming language, let’s take a look at what a basic C++ program actually looks like.

A typical C++ program has the following structure:

• Header files / Preprocessor directives: Start with #include statements to bring in libraries.
• Namespace declaration: Most examples use using namespace std; to avoid writing std:: everywhere.
• Main function: Every C++ program must have a main() function; it's the entry point.
• Statements inside main: Where the logic or instructions go.
• Return statement: Usually return 0; to signal successful execution.

Here’s a quick example:

Want to break this down line-by-line with examples and variations? Check out our full guide on the Structure of a C++ Program!

Comparison With Other Popular Programming Languages

Here is a comparison of C++ with two other popular programming languages:

Java & C++

• C++ is a statically typed language, which means that the data types of variables are declared at compile time. In comparison, Java is a dynamically typed language, which means that the data types of variables are declared at runtime.
• Memory management is manual in C++, i.e., it’s the programmer's responsibility to manually allocate and deallocate memory. In Java, memory management is done by the JVM, which performs garbage collection to free memory.
• C++ is generally faster than Java, but it’s less portable compared to Java language. Java also has a larger ecosystem of libraries and frameworks.

Also read: Top 15+ Difference Between C++ And Java Explained! (+Similarities)

Python & C++

• Python has a simpler syntax than C++, which makes it easier to understand and use. C++ has a complex syntax and is considered one of the tougher languages to learn.
• Also, C++ is statically typed, while Python is a dynamically typed language.
• Python is highly portable and can run on any platform that has a Python interpreter. In comparison, C++ has to be compiled separately for each platform.
• C++ is a compiler-based language and is, hence, faster than Python and other such interpreted languages (including Java). Though Python has a larger and more robust ecosystem of libraries and frameworks, making it easier to use.
• Memory management is manual in C++, i.e., it’s the responsibility of the programmer to manually allocate and deallocate memory. In Python, memory management is done automatically by the interpreter.

Conclusion

The history of C++ is definitely rich and fascinating, and to this day, it remains one of the most widely used programming languages in the world. It’s very flexible and efficient, making it ideal for a wide range of applications. The support offered with the addition of OOP paradigms and interfaces provides programmers with powerful tools for software design. While novice programmers might find it to be a bit complex to learn, there is no denying the fact that it is one of the most rewarding languages to use. Essentially, it remains a vital part of today’s programming landscape.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Who invented C++? How old is it?

C++ was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup in 1979 at Bell Labs. Around the same time, he was also working on his Ph.D. thesis. He is regarded as the Father of C++. As of 2023, the C++ programming language is 44 years old. 

Q2. Is C++ a dead language?

Absolutely not! You might have heard some people say that this language is dead and has become redundant today. However, the fact that C++ still remains one of the most popular and widely used programming languages in the world, even 44 years after it first came out, negates such claims. In fact, in January, C++ won the Tiobe programming language of the year designation for 2022.

Q3. Which is older- C or C++?

The short answer is C. Programming language C was originally developed in 1972 and is considered the mother of all languages since most compilers are written in C. Also, many newer programming languages follow the C syntax, including C++, which was developed in 1979 as an extension of C. So as you can see, the C language is older than C++.

Q4. When was C++ first introduced?

C++ was originally invented in 1979 by the Danish developer Bjarne Stroustrup. However, it was only in 1983 that the first version of C++ was released to the public. It quickly gained popularity among programmers worldwide and was adopted by many companies as well. The rest, as they say, is history!

Q5. Why was C++ introduced?

It was developed to build complex systems with high-level abstractions while still providing low-level access to the hardware. Stroustrup wanted to extend the C language and include features such as classes, inheritance, abstraction, and polymorphism to make it easier to write efficient, modular, and reusable code.

Q6. Which is older- Python or C++?

The C++ language is definitely older than Python. C++ was developed in 1979 and made available to the public in 1983, while the implementation of Python began only in 1989.

Q7. What kind of language is C++?

C++ is a general-purpose programming language that combines both high-level and low-level language features. It is considered a Superset of C. It’s also an object-oriented programming language. It has wide applications across domains and industries across the world.

Q8. What was C++ originally called?

Bjarne Stroustrup initially called the language “C with classes”, when he developed it in 1979. But in 1982-83, Bjarne upgraded the language to include various new features, and at that point, the language was renamed C++. Computer scientist Rick Mascitti is credited for coining the new name. 

Q9. Is C++ the oldest programming language?

C++ is not the oldest programming language. The first commercially available language was FORTRAN, which was developed in 1957. In comparison, C++ was invented in 1979, and it was first made public in 1983.

Q10. Is C++ better than Java?

To say that one of these languages is better than the other in absolute terms is not sensible. That's because each of them has its own strengths and weaknesses. Both are highly popular programming languages used widely in various areas. For example, while C++ is faster than Java, Java is more beginner friendly in comparison to C++.

Q11. Which is more popular- C or C++?

C++ is more popular than C. It contains all the features and benefits of C while providing various new features and OOP paradigms, such as classes, inheritance, and polymorphism.

Q12. Is C++ the mother of all languages?

No, it is the C programming language, which is considered the mother of all languages. This is because many believe that once you master the concepts of C, you can understand and work with any of the other programming languages. Many of the high-level languages are based on C, including C++.

Q13. What is STL in C++?

The STL (Standard Template Library), provides generic algorithms and data structures such as vectors, containers, and iterators. The STL makes it easier to write efficient and reusable code.

Q14. What is the difference between C and C++?

C++ is an object-oriented programming language and an extension of C. In contrast, C is a procedural-oriented programming language. Also, C++ is an extension of the C language, having all the features of C but also adding various new features such as OOP, regex support, range-based for loops, etc. Read this article to know more about the differences-

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This compiles our discussion on the history of C++ programming language. Do check out the following to explore more on C++:

1. Comment In C++ | Types, Usage, C-Style Comments & More (+Examples)
2. Operators In C++ | Types, Precedence & Associativity (+ Examples)
3. Pointers in C++ | A Roadmap To All Pointer Types (With Examples)
4. Array In C++ | Ultimate Guide On Creation, Types & More (Examples)
5. C++ Function | A Comprehensive Guide (With Code Examples)