C++ History – From C with Classes to Modern C++23

Introduction – A Brief Look at C++ Evolution

The history of C++ spans more than four decades, beginning as an enhancement to the C language and growing into one of the most powerful and widely used programming languages in the world. Created to combine object-oriented features with the efficiency of C, C++ has continuously evolved through rigorous standardization, feature expansion, and modern refinements.

In this guide, you’ll explore:

• How C++ was born
• Major milestones and version history
• The evolution of features and paradigms
• The role of ISO standards in shaping modern C++

Origin of C++

• Inventor: Bjarne Stroustrup
• Institution: Bell Labs, New Jersey
• Year: 1979

C++ was initially developed as “C with Classes”—an effort by Stroustrup to combine the system-level capabilities of C with the modularity and abstraction of Simula, the first object-oriented programming language.

Timeline of C++ Evolution

Key Milestones in Detail

C++98 – The Foundation

• Standard Template Library (STL)
• Exception handling
• Namespaces
• Basic OOP support
• Function and class templates

C++03 – Polishing the Standard

• Bug fixes and compiler interoperability
• Maintained backward compatibility

C++11 – The “Modern C++” Revolution

Often dubbed C++0x, this was a game-changing release that redefined how C++ is written.

Introduced:

• auto keyword for type inference
• Lambda functions
• Smart pointers (shared_ptr, unique_ptr)
• Move semantics (std::move)
• Range-based for-loops
• nullptr, enum class, and static_assert

C++14 – Refinements & Utility

• Return type deduction (auto f() -> int)
• Generic lambdas
• std::make_unique

C++17 – More Powerful and Simplified

• if constexpr
• Structured bindings (auto [x, y] = pair)
• std::optional, std::variant, std::any
• Parallel STL algorithms
• Filesystem support (<filesystem>)

C++20 – Feature-Rich and Expressive

One of the biggest upgrades since C++11.

Introduced:

• Concepts for better template validation
• Ranges for composable views over collections
• Coroutines for asynchronous programming
• Modules for better compilation model
• std::format (like Python’s f-strings)
• consteval, constinit, expanded constexpr

C++23 – Simplified and Modern

Focuses on quality of life improvements.

Features:

• if consteval
• Deduction of this in member functions
• Expanded constexpr for I/O and algorithms
• Standardized stack trace utility

Influence of C++ in Modern Computing

C++ has powered countless software applications and entire industries:

Summary – Recap & Next Steps

Key Takeaways:

• C++ began as an enhancement to C and evolved into a robust, multi-paradigm language
• Every version added key features to improve safety, performance, and usability
• C++ remains essential in system programming, gaming, embedded, and finance sectors

Real-World Relevance:
Mastering C++ means staying relevant in industries that require maximum control, speed, and reliability.

FAQs – C++ History

Who created C++ and when?
Bjarne Stroustrup at Bell Labs, starting in 1979.

What was C++ originally called?
“C with Classes” – it later evolved into C++ by 1983.

When was C++ standardized?
The first ISO standard was published in 1998 (C++98).

What is C++11 known for?
It introduced modern features like auto, lambdas, smart pointers, and range-based loops.

Is C++ still evolving?
Yes! C++23 has just been released and C++26 is under discussion.