---
title: "Program and Linkage  (C++) | Microsoft Docs"
ms.custom: ""
ms.date: "11/04/2016"
ms.reviewer: ""
ms.suite: ""
ms.technology:  
  - "cpp-language"
ms.tgt_pltfrm: ""
ms.topic: "language-reference"
dev_langs: 
  - "C++"
ms.assetid: a6493ba0-24e2-4c89-956e-9da1dea660cb
caps.latest.revision: 8
author: "mikeblome"
ms.author: "mblome"
manager: "ghogen"
translation.priority.ht: 
  - "cs-cz"
  - "de-de"
  - "es-es"
  - "fr-fr"
  - "it-it"
  - "ja-jp"
  - "ko-kr"
  - "pl-pl"
  - "pt-br"
  - "ru-ru"
  - "tr-tr"
  - "zh-cn"
  - "zh-tw"
---
# Program and Linkage  (C++)
A program consists of one or more translation units linked together. Execution (conceptually) begins in the translation unit that contains the function **main**. (For more information on translation units, see [Phases of Translation](../preprocessor/phases-of-translation.md), in the *Preprocessor Reference*.) For more information about the **main** function, see [Program Startup: the main Function](../cpp/main-program-startup.md).)  
  
## See Also  
 [Basic Concepts](../cpp/basic-concepts-cpp.md)