Who Should Attend

This course is designed for individuals with prior programming experience who want to develop capability in C++, including:

• Developers transitioning from C to C++
• Software Engineers working with systems or embedded applications
• Programmers looking to apply object-oriented principles in C++
• Technical professionals working with C++ codebases

Prerequisites

Participants should have:

• a working knowledge of C programming or another structured language
• familiarity with basic programming concepts such as variables, control flow, and functions

An understanding of object-oriented concepts is helpful but not essential.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• distinguish key C++ language features not available in C
• compile and execute C++ programs confidently
• apply object-oriented programming concepts including encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism
• design and implement classes and reusable components
• use constructors, destructors, and dynamic memory management
• apply function overloading, inline functions, and operator overloading
• use I/O streams and file handling mechanisms
• understand scope, storage class, and linkage
• handle errors using exception handling
• apply templates for generic programming (optional / advanced)

Course Content

Introduction to C++

Participants begin by understanding the foundations and evolution of the language.

Topics typically include:

• features of C++
• history and origin of the language
• advantages of C++
• the C++ compilation process

C++ vs C

This section explores how C++ extends and differs from C.

Topics typically include:

• compatibility between C and C++
• improved readability and commenting
• keywords, modifiers, and declarations
• derived data types
• operator precedence and associativity
• scope resolution operator (::)
• namespaces
• input/output streams

Functions in C++

Participants learn how to structure programs using functions.

Topics typically include:

• function declaration and definition
• reference parameters
• default arguments
• function overloading
• inline functions
• type-safe linkage and name mangling
• combining C and C++ functions

Object-Oriented Concepts

This section introduces the key principles of object-oriented programming.

Topics typically include:

• procedural vs object-oriented programming
• data abstraction and encapsulation
• inheritance and polymorphism
• impact of object-oriented design
• basic object-oriented design techniques (e.g. CRC cards)

Classes and Encapsulation

Participants learn how to define and work with classes.

Topics typically include:

• class definition and syntax
• data members and member functions
• internal vs external member functions
• access control (private vs public members)

Constructors, Destructors, and Memory Management

This section focuses on object lifecycle and memory handling.

Topics typically include:

• constructors (including overloaded and parameterised)
• destructors
• dynamic memory allocation (new and delete)
• pointers to classes
• the this pointer
• friend functions and classes
• copy constructors
• avoiding memory leaks

Input/Output Streams

Participants learn how to handle input and output in C++.

Topics typically include:

• standard I/O streams (cin, cout, cerr)
• stream operations and manipulators
• file input/output
• stream state checking
• additional I/O member functions (get, put, write)

Operator Overloading

This section explores how operators can be customised for user-defined types.

Topics typically include:

• operator overloading rules and restrictions
• binary and unary operators
• assignment operators
• increment and decrement operators
• type conversion operators
• friend and non-member operator functions

Constants, Scope, and Linkage

Participants develop a deeper understanding of program structure and data handling.

Topics typically include:

• named constants
• constants with pointers and references
• constant member functions
• logical constness and mutable
• scope and storage class
• linkage
• static class members

Inheritance

This section focuses on software reuse and extending functionality.

Topics typically include:

• inheritance concepts and terminology
• base and derived classes
• access specifiers (public, private, protected)
• single and multiple inheritance
• constructors and destructors in inheritance
• containment

Polymorphism and Dynamic Binding

Participants explore dynamic behaviour in object-oriented systems.

Topics typically include:

• polymorphism and binding types
• static vs dynamic binding
• virtual functions
• rules for dynamic binding
• abstract classes and pure virtual functions

Error and Exception Handling

This section focuses on building robust applications.

Topics typically include:

• exception handling model
• exception handling keywords
• generating and handling exceptions
• creating custom exception classes
• propagation and handling strategies

Templates (Optional / Advanced)

Participants are introduced to generic programming concepts.

Topics typically include:

• class and function templates
• template syntax and arguments
• template specialisation
• advanced template techniques

Delivery Approach

This is a hands-on, structured programme designed to build practical capability.

It includes:

• instructor-led technical sessions
• guided coding exercises
• practical examples and scenarios
• progressive development of concepts

Duration

3 Days (adjust if needed if this version differs)

Delivery Options

This course can be delivered as:

• a public scheduled course
• a private team programme
• virtual delivery
• on-site classroom training

Outcomes

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

• develop structured and reusable C++ applications
• apply object-oriented principles effectively
• manage memory and resources safely
• use advanced features such as operator overloading and templates
• build maintainable and scalable software systems

Additional Notes

This course provides a strong foundation for progression into:

• advanced C++ (C++17 / C++20)
• embedded and systems programming
• high-performance software development

Participants are encouraged to apply the techniques learned to their own development environments and projects.