Getting Started
hello.cpp
#include <iostream>
 
int main() {
    std::cout << "Hello CheatSheets\n";
    return 0;
}Compiling and running
$ g++ hello.cpp -o hello
$ ./hello
Hello CheatSheetsVariables
int number = 5;       // Integer
float f = 0.95;       // Floating number
double PI = 3.14159;  // Floating number
char yes = 'Y';       // Character
std::string s = "ME"; // String (text)
bool isRight = true;  // Boolean
 
// Constants
const float RATE = 0.8;int age {25};         // Since C++11
std::cout << age;     // Print 25Primitive Data Types
| Data Type | Size | Range | 
|---|---|---|
| int | 4 bytes | -2^31^ ^to^ 2^31^-1 | 
| float | 4 bytes | N/A | 
| double | 8 bytes | N/A | 
| char | 1 byte | -128 ^to^ 127 | 
| bool | 1 byte | true / false | 
| void | N/A | N/A | 
| wchar_t | 2 ^or^ 4 bytes | 1 wide character | 
| {.show-header} | 
User Input
int num;
 
std::cout << "Type a number: ";
std::cin >> num;
 
std::cout << "You entered " << num;Swap
int a = 5, b = 10;
std::swap(a, b);
 
// Outputs: a=10, b=5
std::cout << "a=" << a << ", b=" << b;Comments
// A single one line comment in C++
 
/* This is a multiple line comment
   in C++ */If statement
if (a == 10) {
    // do something
}See: Conditionals
Loops
for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
    std::cout << i << "\n";
}See: Loops
Functions
#include <iostream>
 
void hello(); // Declaring
 
int main() {  // main function
    hello();    // Calling
}
 
void hello() { // Defining
    std::cout << "Hello CheatSheets!\n";
}See: Functions
References
int i = 1;
int& ri = i; // ri is a reference to i
 
ri = 2; // i is now changed to 2
std::cout << "i=" << i;
 
i = 3;   // i is now changed to 3
std::cout << "ri=" << ri;ri and i refer to the same memory location.
Namespaces
#include <iostream>
namespace ns1 {int val(){return 5;}}
int main()
{
    std::cout << ns1::val();
}#include <iostream>
namespace ns1 {int val(){return 5;}}
using namespace ns1;
using namespace std;
int main()
{
    cout << val(); 
}Namespaces allow global identifiers under a name
C++ Arrays
Declaration
std::array<int, 3> marks; // Definition
marks[0] = 92;
marks[1] = 97;
marks[2] = 98;
 
// Define and initialize
std::array<int, 3> = {92, 97, 98};
 
// With empty members
std::array<int, 3> marks = {92, 97};
std::cout << marks[2]; // Outputs: 0Manipulation
┌─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┐
| 92  | 97  | 98  | 99  | 98  | 94  |
└─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┴─────┘
   0     1     2     3     4     5std::array<int, 6> marks = {92, 97, 98, 99, 98, 94};
 
// Print first element
std::cout << marks[0];
 
// Change 2nd element to 99
marks[1] = 99;
 
// Take input from the user
std::cin >> marks[2];Displaying
char ref[5] = {'R', 'e', 'f'};
 
// Range based for loop
for (const int &n : ref) {
    std::cout << std::string(1, n);
}
 
// Traditional for loop
for (int i = 0; i < sizeof(ref); ++i) {
    std::cout << ref[i];
}Multidimensional
     j0   j1   j2   j3   j4   j5
   ┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐
i0 | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | 5  | 6  |
   ├────┼────┼────┼────┼────┼────┤
i1 | 6  | 5  | 4  | 3  | 2  | 1  |
   └────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘int x[2][6] = {
    {1,2,3,4,5,6}, {6,5,4,3,2,1}
};
for (int i = 0; i < 2; ++i) {
    for (int j = 0; j < 6; ++j) {
        std::cout << x[i][j] << " ";
    }
}
// Outputs: 1 2 3 4 5 6 6 5 4 3 2 1 C++ Conditionals
If Clause
if (a == 10) {
    // do something
}int number = 16;
 
if (number % 2 == 0)
{
    std::cout << "even";
}
else
{
    std::cout << "odd";
}
 
// Outputs: evenElse if Statement
int score = 99;
if (score == 100) {
    std::cout << "Superb";
}
else if (score >= 90) {
    std::cout << "Excellent";
}
else if (score >= 80) {
    std::cout << "Very Good";
}
else if (score >= 70) {
    std::cout << "Good";
}
else if (score >= 60)
    std::cout << "OK";
else
    std::cout << "What?";Operators {.row-span-2}
Relational Operators
| a == b | a is equal to b | 
| a != b | a is NOT equal to b | 
| a < b | a is less than b | 
| a > b | a is greater b | 
| a <= b | a is less than or equal to b | 
| a >= b | a is greater or equal to b | 
Assignment Operators
| Example | Equivalent to | 
|---|---|
| a += b | Aka a = a + b | 
| a -= b | Aka a = a - b | 
| a *= b | Aka a = a * b | 
| a /= b | Aka a = a / b | 
| a %= b | Aka a = a % b | 
Logical Operators
| Example | Meaning | 
|---|---|
| exp1 && exp2 | Both are true (AND) | 
| `exp1 | |
| !exp | expis false (NOT) | 
Bitwise Operators
| Operator | Description | 
|---|---|
| a & b | Binary AND | 
| `a | b` | 
| a ^ b | Binary XOR | 
| ~ a | Binary One's Complement | 
| a << b | Binary Shift Left | 
| a >> b | Binary Shift Right | 
Ternary Operator
           ┌── True ──┐
Result = Condition ? Exp1 : Exp2;
           └───── False ─────┘int x = 3, y = 5, max;
max = (x > y) ? x : y;
 
// Outputs: 5
std::cout << max << std::endl;int x = 3, y = 5, max;
if (x > y) {
    max = x;
} else {
    max = y;
}
// Outputs: 5
std::cout << max << std::endl;Switch Statement
int num = 2;
switch (num) {
    case 0:
        std::cout << "Zero";
        break;
    case 1:
        std::cout << "One";
        break;
    case 2:
        std::cout << "Two";
        break;
    case 3:
        std::cout << "Three";
        break;
    default:
        std::cout << "What?";
        break;
}C++ Loops
While
int i = 0;
while (i < 6) {
    std::cout << i++;
}
 
// Outputs: 012345Do-while
int i = 1;
do {
    std::cout << i++;
} while (i <= 5);
 
// Outputs: 12345Continue statements
for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++) {
    if (i % 2 == 0) {
        continue;
    }
    std::cout << i;
} // Outputs: 13579Infinite loop
while (true) { // true or 1
    std::cout << "infinite loop";
}for (;;) {
    std::cout << "infinite loop";
}for(int i = 1; i > 0; i++) {
    std::cout << "infinite loop";
}for_each (Since C++11)
#include <iostream>
 
int main()
{
    auto print = [](int num) { std::cout << num << std::endl; };
 
    std::array<int, 4> arr = {1, 2, 3, 4};
    std::for_each(arr.begin(), arr.end(), print);
    return 0;
}Range-based (Since C++11)
for (int n : {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}) {
    std::cout << n << " ";
}
// Outputs: 1 2 3 4 5std::string hello = "CheatSheets.zip";
for (char c: hello)
{
    std::cout << c << " ";
}
// Outputs: Q u i c k R e f . M E Break statements
int password, times = 0;
while (password != 1234) {
    if (times++ >= 3) {
        std::cout << "Locked!\n";
        break;
    }
    std::cout << "Password: ";
    std::cin >> password; // input
}Several variations
for (int i = 0, j = 2; i < 3; i++, j--){
    std::cout << "i=" << i << ",";
    std::cout << "j=" << j << ";";
}
// Outputs: i=0,j=2;i=1,j=1;i=2,j=0;C++ Functions
Arguments & Returns
#include <iostream>
 
int add(int a, int b) {
    return a + b;  
}
 
int main() {
    std::cout << add(10, 20); 
}add is a function taking 2 ints and returning int
Overloading
void fun(string a, string b) {
    std::cout << a + " " + b;
}
void fun(string a) {
    std::cout << a;
}
void fun(int a) {
    std::cout << a;
}Built-in Functions
#include <iostream>
#include <cmath> // import library
 
int main() {
    // sqrt() is from cmath
    std::cout << sqrt(9);
}C++ Classes & Objects {.cols-2}
Defining a Class
class MyClass {
  public:             // Access specifier
    int myNum;        // Attribute (int variable)
    string myString;  // Attribute (string variable)
};
 Creating an Object
MyClass myObj;  // Create an object of MyClass
 
myObj.myNum = 15;          // Set the value of myNum to 15
myObj.myString = "Hello";  // Set the value of myString to "Hello"
 
cout << myObj.myNum << endl;         // Output 15
cout << myObj.myString << endl;      // Output "Hello"
 Constructors
class MyClass {
  public:
    int myNum;
    string myString;
    MyClass() {  // Constructor
      myNum = 0;
      myString = "";
    }
};
 
MyClass myObj;  // Create an object of MyClass
 
cout << myObj.myNum << endl;         // Output 0
cout << myObj.myString << endl;      // Output ""
 Destructors
class MyClass {
  public:
    int myNum;
    string myString;
    MyClass() {  // Constructor
      myNum = 0;
      myString = "";
    }
    ~MyClass() {  // Destructor
      cout << "Object destroyed." << endl;
    }
};
 
MyClass myObj;  // Create an object of MyClass
 
// Code here...
 
// Object is destroyed automatically when the program exits the scope
 
 Class Methods
class MyClass {
  public:
    int myNum;
    string myString;
    void myMethod() {  // Method/function defined inside the class
      cout << "Hello World!" << endl;
    }
};
 
MyClass myObj;  // Create an object of MyClass
myObj.myMethod();  // Call the methodAccess Modifiers
class MyClass {
  public:     // Public access specifier
    int x;    // Public attribute
  private:    // Private access specifier
    int y;    // Private attribute
  protected:  // Protected access specifier
    int z;    // Protected attribute
};
 
MyClass myObj;
myObj.x = 25;  // Allowed (public)
myObj.y = 50;  // Not allowed (private)
myObj.z = 75;  // Not allowed (protected)
 Getters and Setters
class MyClass {
  private:
    int myNum;
  public:
    void setMyNum(int num) {  // Setter
      myNum = num;
    }
    int getMyNum() {  // Getter
      return myNum;
    }
};
 
MyClass myObj;
myObj.setMyNum(15);  // Set the value of myNum to 15
cout << myObj.getMyNum() << endl;  // Output 15
 Inheritance
class Vehicle {
  public:
    string brand = "Ford";
    void honk() {
      cout << "Tuut, tuut!" << endl;
    }
};
 
class Car : public Vehicle {
  public:
    string model = "Mustang";
};
 
Car myCar;
myCar.honk();  // Output "Tuut, tuut!"
cout << myCar.brand + " " + myCar.model << endl;  // Output "Ford Mustang"C++ Preprocessor
Preprocessor {.row-span-3}
- if (opens in a new tab)
- elif (opens in a new tab)
- else (opens in a new tab)
- endif (opens in a new tab)
- ifdef (opens in a new tab)
- ifndef (opens in a new tab)
- define (opens in a new tab)
- undef (opens in a new tab)
- include (opens in a new tab)
- line (opens in a new tab)
- error (opens in a new tab)
- pragma (opens in a new tab)
- defined (opens in a new tab)
- __has_include (opens in a new tab)
- __has_cpp_attribute (opens in a new tab)
- export (opens in a new tab)
- import (opens in a new tab)
- module (opens in a new tab) {.marker-none .cols-2}
Includes
#include "iostream"
#include <iostream>Defines
#define FOO
#define FOO "hello"
 
#undef FOOIf {.row-span-2}
#ifdef DEBUG
  console.log('hi');
#elif defined VERBOSE
  ...
#else
  ...
#endifError
#if VERSION == 2.0
  #error Unsupported
  #warning Not really supported
#endifMacro
#define DEG(x) ((x) * 57.29)Token concat
#define DST(name) name##_s name##_t
DST(object);   #=> object_s object_t;Stringification
#define STR(name) #name
char * a = STR(object);   #=> char * a = "object";file and line
#define LOG(msg) console.log(__FILE__, __LINE__, msg)
#=> console.log("file.txt", 3, "hey")Miscellaneous
Escape Sequences
| Escape Sequences | Characters | 
|---|---|
| \b | Backspace | 
| \f | Form feed | 
| \n | Newline | 
| \r | Return | 
| \t | Horizontal tab | 
| \v | Vertical tab | 
| \\ | Backslash | 
| \' | Single quotation mark | 
| \" | Double quotation mark | 
| \? | Question mark | 
| \0 | Null Character | 
Keywords {.col-span-2 .row-span-2}
- alignas (opens in a new tab)
- alignof (opens in a new tab)
- and (opens in a new tab)
- and_eq (opens in a new tab)
- asm (opens in a new tab)
- atomic_cancel (opens in a new tab)
- atomic_commit (opens in a new tab)
- atomic_noexcept (opens in a new tab)
- auto (opens in a new tab)
- bitand (opens in a new tab)
- bitor (opens in a new tab)
- bool (opens in a new tab)
- break (opens in a new tab)
- case (opens in a new tab)
- catch (opens in a new tab)
- char (opens in a new tab)
- char8_t (opens in a new tab)
- char16_t (opens in a new tab)
- char32_t (opens in a new tab)
- class (opens in a new tab)
- compl (opens in a new tab)
- concept (opens in a new tab)
- const (opens in a new tab)
- consteval (opens in a new tab)
- constexpr (opens in a new tab)
- constinit (opens in a new tab)
- const_cast (opens in a new tab)
- continue (opens in a new tab)
- co_await (opens in a new tab)
- co_return (opens in a new tab)
- co_yield (opens in a new tab)
- decltype (opens in a new tab)
- default (opens in a new tab)
- delete (opens in a new tab)
- do (opens in a new tab)
- double (opens in a new tab)
- dynamic_cast (opens in a new tab)
- else (opens in a new tab)
- enum (opens in a new tab)
- explicit (opens in a new tab)
- export (opens in a new tab)
- extern (opens in a new tab)
- false (opens in a new tab)
- float (opens in a new tab)
- for (opens in a new tab)
- friend (opens in a new tab)
- goto (opens in a new tab)
- if (opens in a new tab)
- inline (opens in a new tab)
- int (opens in a new tab)
- long (opens in a new tab)
- mutable (opens in a new tab)
- namespace (opens in a new tab)
- new (opens in a new tab)
- noexcept (opens in a new tab)
- not (opens in a new tab)
- not_eq (opens in a new tab)
- nullptr (opens in a new tab)
- operator (opens in a new tab)
- or (opens in a new tab)
- or_eq (opens in a new tab)
- private (opens in a new tab)
- protected (opens in a new tab)
- public (opens in a new tab)
- reflexpr (opens in a new tab)
- register (opens in a new tab)
- reinterpret_cast (opens in a new tab)
- requires (opens in a new tab)
- return (opens in a new tab)
- short (opens in a new tab)
- signed (opens in a new tab)
- sizeof (opens in a new tab)
- static (opens in a new tab)
- static_assert (opens in a new tab)
- static_cast (opens in a new tab)
- struct (opens in a new tab)
- switch (opens in a new tab)
- synchronized (opens in a new tab)
- template (opens in a new tab)
- this (opens in a new tab)
- thread_local (opens in a new tab)
- throw (opens in a new tab)
- true (opens in a new tab)
- try (opens in a new tab)
- typedef (opens in a new tab)
- typeid (opens in a new tab)
- typename (opens in a new tab)
- union (opens in a new tab)
- unsigned (opens in a new tab)
- using (opens in a new tab)
- virtual (opens in a new tab)
- void (opens in a new tab)
- volatile (opens in a new tab)
- wchar_t (opens in a new tab)
- while (opens in a new tab)
- xor (opens in a new tab)
- xor_eq (opens in a new tab)
- final (opens in a new tab)
- override (opens in a new tab)
- transaction_safe (opens in a new tab)
- transaction_safe_dynamic (opens in a new tab) {.marker-none .cols-5}
Preprocessor
- if (opens in a new tab)
- elif (opens in a new tab)
- else (opens in a new tab)
- endif (opens in a new tab)
- ifdef (opens in a new tab)
- ifndef (opens in a new tab)
- define (opens in a new tab)
- undef (opens in a new tab)
- include (opens in a new tab)
- line (opens in a new tab)
- error (opens in a new tab)
- pragma (opens in a new tab)
- defined (opens in a new tab)
- __has_include (opens in a new tab)
- __has_cpp_attribute (opens in a new tab)
- export (opens in a new tab)
- import (opens in a new tab)
- module (opens in a new tab) {.marker-none .cols-2}
Also see
- 
C++ Infographics & Cheat Sheets (opens in a new tab) (hackingcpp.com) 
- 
C++ reference (opens in a new tab) (cppreference.com) 
- 
C++ Language Tutorials (opens in a new tab) (cplusplus.com)