---
title: "C++ Language Reference"
ms.custom: "index-page"
ms.date: "12/10/2019"
helpviewer_keywords: ["C++, language reference"]
ms.assetid: 4be9cacb-c862-4391-894a-3a118c9c93ce
---
# C++ Language Reference

This reference explains the C++ programming language as implemented in the Microsoft C++ compiler. The organization is based on [*The Annotated C++ Reference Manual*](http://www.stroustrup.com/arm.html) by Margaret Ellis and Bjarne Stroustrup and on the ANSI/ISO C++ International Standard (ISO/IEC FDIS 14882). Microsoft-specific implementations of C++ language features are included.

For an overview of Modern C++ programming practices, see [Welcome Back to C++](welcome-back-to-cpp-modern-cpp.md).

See the following tables to quickly find a keyword or operator:

- [C++ Keywords](../cpp/keywords-cpp.md)

- [C++ Operators](../cpp/cpp-built-in-operators-precedence-and-associativity.md)

## In This Section

[Lexical Conventions](../cpp/lexical-conventions.md)<br/>
Fundamental lexical elements of a C++ program: tokens, comments, operators, keywords, punctuators, literals. Also, file translation, operator precedence/associativity.

[Basic Concepts](../cpp/basic-concepts-cpp.md)<br/>
Scope, linkage, program startup and termination, storage classes, and types.

[Built-in types](fundamental-types-cpp.md)
The fundamental types that are built into the C++ compiler and their value ranges.

[Standard Conversions](../cpp/standard-conversions.md)<br/>
Type conversions between built-in types. Also, arithmetic conversions and conversions among pointer, reference, and pointer-to-member types.

[Declarations and definitions](declarations-and-definitions-cpp.md)
Declaring and defining variables, types and functions.

[Operators, Precedence and Associativity](../cpp/cpp-built-in-operators-precedence-and-associativity.md)<br/>
The operators in C++.

[Expressions](../cpp/expressions-cpp.md)<br/>
Types of expressions, semantics of expressions, reference topics on operators, casting and casting operators, run-time type information.

[Lambda Expressions](../cpp/lambda-expressions-in-cpp.md)<br/>
A programming technique that implicitly defines a function object class and constructs a function object of that class type.

[Statements](../cpp/statements-cpp.md)<br/>
Expression, null, compound, selection, iteration, jump, and declaration statements.

[Classes and structs](../cpp/classes-and-structs-cpp.md)<br/>
Introduction to classes, structures, and unions. Also, member functions, special member functions, data members, bit fields, **this** pointer, nested classes.

[Unions](unions.md)<br/>
User-defined types in which all members share the same memory location.

[Derived Classes](../cpp/inheritance-cpp.md)<br/>
Single and multiple inheritance, **virtual** functions, multiple base classes, **abstract** classes, scope rules. Also, the **__super** and **__interface** keywords.

[Member-Access Control](../cpp/member-access-control-cpp.md)<br/>
Controlling access to class members: **public**, **private**, and **protected** keywords. Friend functions and classes.

[Overloading](operator-overloading.md)<br/>
Overloaded operators, rules for operator overloading.

[Exception Handling](../cpp/exception-handling-in-visual-cpp.md)<br/>
C++ exception handling, structured exception handling (SEH), keywords used in writing exception handling statements.

[Assertion and User-Supplied Messages](../cpp/assertion-and-user-supplied-messages-cpp.md)<br/>
`#error` directive, the **static_assert** keyword, the `assert` macro.

[Templates](../cpp/templates-cpp.md)<br/>
Template specifications, function templates, class templates, **typename** keyword, templates vs. macros, templates and smart pointers.

[Event Handling](../cpp/event-handling.md)<br/>
Declaring events and event handlers.

[Microsoft-Specific Modifiers](../cpp/microsoft-specific-modifiers.md)<br/>
Modifiers specific to Microsoft C++. Memory addressing, calling conventions, **naked** functions, extended storage-class attributes (**__declspec**), **__w64**.

[Inline Assembler](../assembler/inline/inline-assembler.md)<br/>
Using assembly language and C++ in **__asm** blocks.

[Compiler COM Support](../cpp/compiler-com-support.md)<br/>
A reference to Microsoft-specific classes and global functions used to support COM types.

[Microsoft Extensions](../cpp/microsoft-extensions.md)<br/>
Microsoft extensions to C++.

[Nonstandard Behavior](../cpp/nonstandard-behavior.md)<br/>
Information about nonstandard behavior of the Microsoft C++ compiler.

[Welcome Back to C++](welcome-back-to-cpp-modern-cpp.md)<br/>
An overview of modern C++ programming practices for writing safe, correct and efficient programs.

## Related Sections

[Component Extensions for Runtime Platforms](../extensions/component-extensions-for-runtime-platforms.md)<br/>
Reference material on using the Microsoft C++ compiler to target .NET.

[C/C++ Building Reference](../build/reference/c-cpp-building-reference.md)<br/>
Compiler options, linker options, and other build tools.

[C/C++ Preprocessor Reference](../preprocessor/c-cpp-preprocessor-reference.md)<br/>
Reference material on pragmas, preprocessor directives, predefined macros, and the preprocessor.

[Visual C++ Libraries](../standard-library/cpp-standard-library-reference.md)<br/>
A list of links to the reference start pages for the various Microsoft C++ libraries.

## See also

[C Language Reference](../c-language/c-language-reference.md)