c-plusplus.org

C++ is a general purpose, high-performance compiled computer programming language invented by Bjarne Stroustrup.  It supports several programming styles, such as procedural, object oriented and template programming.  C++ evolved from the classic C language and apart from a few minor differences, C can be compiled as C++.  In other words C is a subset of C++, or C++ is a superset of C (apart from a few minor differences).   C++ supports low level programming features like direct memory access and inline assembly, but also high level facilities like classes, templates and libraries.  International standardisation efforts resulted in an ISO standard C++ that was ratified in 1998.  A new standard is expected soon, codenamed C++0x where 0x stands for the year when it will delivered (hopefully 09 not 0A or 0B!)