C++ is a widely used yet general-purpose programming language. It allows programmers to write powerful and impactful programs globally. The language continues to transform upward thanks to the C++ version history and overall development.
As a result, users and enthusiasts have experienced numerous changes, improvements, and optimizations while using their favorite programming language. It started as an extension of the C language and has contributed to several applications, such as game development, financial systems, and operating systems.
This blog post will highlight the history of C++ versions and how it has progressed in the last four decades. It will also discuss the future of a leading programming language.
C++ Version History – How It Started
The history of C++ dates back to the late 1970s, when a Danish computer scientist, Bjarne Stroustrup, developed the successor of the C language while he was employed at Bell Labs. Stroustrup planned C++ as a language that would allow C programmes to keep their old code while the new code could be written using a set of enhancements to allow object-oriented programming in C.
Three years later, in 1983, Dr. Stroustrup named the new language C++, an increment of C. However, the programming language was officially released two years later, in 1985. At the same time, Dr. Stoustrup published a book called The C++ Programming Language, the official manual.
C++ is a popular yet results-driven language that has been around for four decades. It is the preferred choice for many projects, including coding large-scale systems and applications.
A Brief Timeline of C++ Programming History
C++ history is impressive, to say the least, as Stroustrup began thinking about the famous programming language that later emerged as C++.
- 1979: Stroustrup started working on C with Classes in Bell Labs.
- 1983: C with Classes renamed to C++
- 1985: The first edition or version of “The C++ Programming Language” was announced.
- 1989: C++ 2.0 was released.
- 1998: The first ISO Standard (C++ 98) was introduced. It comprised various features such as exception handling, STL (Standard Template Library), templates, and more.
- 2003: C++03 was primarily a maintenance update to C++98, comprising bug fixes.
- 2011: C++11, a major revision of C++ language, was launched. New features like lambda expressions, nullptr, etc., delighted users in this update.
- 2014: C++14, bug fixes and minor improvements on C++11 were made in this update.
- 2017: C++17. This update revised the ISO/IEC 14882 standard for the C++ programming language.
- 2020: C++20, This update encompasses C++ with the facilities to review program entities like classes, variables, enumerations, their members, lambdas, and their captures, etc.
- 2024: C++23, the latest C++ version was launched in 2024. Users experienced new yet powerful features like pattern matching, expanded support for ranges, etc.
C++ Version History (A Comprehensive Showdown)
As you know, C++ is an object-oriented programming language that gives programmers a clear structure and enables code reuse, decreasing development costs. Interestingly, C++ is portable, and developers can use it to create applications that can be modified according to the requirements of various platforms.
Coming to the C++ version history, the table below provides users with a glimpse of all old and latest releases of C++. In addition, it describes various key features users have benefited from when using different C++ versions.
|
C++ Version History |
C++ Version Release Date |
Changes Made in C++ Current and Old Versions |
| C++98 (ISO/IEC 14882:1998) | October 1998 | C++98 was the first international standard for C++.
It introduced new features such as exception handling, templates, namespaces, etc. |
| C++03 (ISO/IEC 14882:2003) | February 2003 | It was a minor revision of the C++98 standard that focused on offering solutions, such as bug fixes and clarifying ambiguity in the language. |
| C++11 | August 2011 | Introduction of Lambda Expressions, Delegating Constructors, Uniform Initialization Syntax, nullptr, Automatic Type Dedication, decltype, Rvalue References, etc. |
| C++14 | August 2014 | Introduction of polymorphic lambdas, digit separators, generalized lambda capture, variable templates, binary integer literals, quoted strings, etc. |
| C++17 | December 2017 | Introduction of fold expressions, hexadecimal floating point literals, a u8 character literal, selection statements with initializer, inline variables, etc. |
| C++20 | March 2020 | This update improved C++ by examining program entities like variables, enumerations, classes, and their members, lambdas, and their captures. |
| C++23 | December 2024 | C++23 was the major revision of the C++ language. It focused on crucial aspects like standardization, language features, enhanced usability, and more. |
| C++26 | Future Release (Expected in mid-2026) | C++26 is the informal name for the next version or release of the C++ standard that follows C++23. |
C++26 (Upcoming C++ Release)
This version will likely be released around or in mid-2026, every 3 years after the previous standard. At present, it is an ongoing project by the ISO C++ committee. The ISO C++ committee strives hard to bring various features and changes to facilitate developers, users, and other stakeholders, like pattern matching, executor-based concurrency, better support for SIMD / vectorization, cleaner syntax for coroutines, more powerful metaprogramming, improved Modules, and more.
C++23 (ISO/IEC 14882:2024) (Current C++ Version)
The C++23 standard, formally designated ISO/IEC 14882:2024, was officially released in February 2023 but published as the ISO standard in December 2024. As far as the technical goes, it was duly completed in February 2023.
However, other factors, such as the administrative process, plus final approval and publication, delayed the final release until the end of the year, resulting in the “2024” designation.
Remember, it is again an evolution of C++20, where it tries to polish and enhance the existing features of C++20. Furthermore, this current C++ version comprises key features like a multidimensional subscript operator, Unicode support improvements, static operator () for lambdas, and more.
C++20 (ISO/IEC 14882:2020) (C++ Previous Version)
C++20 added the significant features that did not make it into C++17. As a result, this version was a crucial step forward, comparable to the step from C++03 to C++11. Thus, we can assume that this version is a key upgrade that C++17 was supposed to be. C++20 delighted users with new language features like coroutines, concepts, and modules.
This latest version of C++ offers developers more convenience and helps them manage errors efficiently.
C++17 (ISO/IEC 14882:2017) (Old Version of C++)
After significant updates or progress in C++11 and more effort in C++14, the following strategy was to include more missing features, expand the standard Library, enhance compile-time programming, and improve template usability.
Therefore, C++17 offered users language improvements, such as fold expressions, structured bindings, template argument deduction for classes, and inline variables.
C++14 (ISO/IEC 14882:2014) (Another C++ Previous Version)
As you know, C++14 was officially launched in December 2014 and is considered one of the oldest C++ releases. This release was assumed to be a minor update. However, C++14 provided users with various improvements in performance, syntax, and template programming.
C++ 14 offered users various crucial features such as generic lambdas, auto return type deduction for functions, decltype (auto), etc.
C++11 (ISO/IEC 14882:2011)
C++11 was launched in 2011 and is also commonly called C++0x. That’s because this previous C++ version was to be released during the 200x decade. However, it was launched a few years later than expected. The wait was worth it as it helped users benefit from different features like auto keyword, nullptr, lambda function, and more.
C++03 (ISO/IEC 14882:2003)
The C++03 was officially launched in 2003. Furthermore, the release was just a minor revision of C++98 that primarily focused on fixing bugs and inconsistencies. It was not a big update, just like a cleanup of C++98; mainly, we can say a technical correction.
C++98 (ISO/IEC 14882:1998) (Old C++ Version)
This was the first official standard of the C++ language, introduced in 1998, and is therefore known as C++98. Before this, there was no fixed set of rules for it. C++98 introduced a formal structure that comprised templates, namespaces, a bool type, exceptions for error handling, STL (Standard Template Library), such as maps, vectors, lists, etc.
What is C++ Current Version?
C++23, formerly ISO/IEC 14882:2024, is the current or existing open standard for the C++ programming language, following C++20. This means that the latest C++ version happens to be the same.
What are the Old Versions of C++?
Old versions of C++, earlier standards, and applications of the C++ programming language, including those before C++11 and older versions of the Microsoft Visual C++ (MSVC) compiler. These previous versions of C++ don’t have contemporary features and improvements, which users can easily discover and experience in newer standards and implementations.
That said, you cannot rule out the significance of old versions of C++, as they have played a decisive role in making the latest C++ releases successful.
When Was C++ Created?
Bjarne Stroustrup was the mastermind behind the invention of C++ in 1979. C++ is an extension of C, a procedural programming language. Stroustrup enhanced C++ considerably to provide programmers with more control over memory and system resources.
How Can We Differentiate Between C and C++?
As discussed, C++ is an extension of C, one of the oldest programming languages. C++ retains the functionality of C and focuses primarily on developing operating systems and desktop applications. It also allows users to control system memory and resources effectively.
This way, users can smartly manage the memory within their applications, improving the speed and performance of C++-based video games, devices, software, and more.
Is Unreal Engine C or C++?
Unreal Engine has a robust framework for C++ programmers that helps bring their vision to life. If you don’t know about Unreal Engine, don’t worry. It is a powerful and impactful game engine developed by Epic Games and utilized for video game design. It offers developers comprehensive tools and technologies to create interactive 3D graphics and immersive virtual experiences.
The Future of C++
Like old versions of C++, its latest versions include contemporary features that have transformed programming for all the right reasons. We are correct if we argue that C++ has come a long way since its inception in 1983.
This impressive language has evolved at a reasonable pace during the last four decades. In addition, C++23 is the latest release of C++, which took place in 2024. Fortunately, this is encouraging news for C++ enthusiasts, as C++26, the upcoming release, will likely be completed by mid-2026.
C++23 has already been released, comprising crucial features and adjustments. We can expect the same for C++26, as users will experience numerous features and improvements in the coming years.
C++ has been progressing in the right direction, continually rising in popularity. The good thing about the latest C++ releases is that users have started utilizing them differently. For instance, the application of C++ has helped users develop virtual reality (VR) applications through the Unreal Engine and cryptocurrency applications.
Wrapping Up (C++ Version History)
We expect you to appreciate our detailed blog post explaining the history of the C++ version. C++ is one of the pioneer programming languages that has dramatically enhanced the impact of various applications, such as game development and operating systems. Therefore, developers and users should not underestimate the importance of the C++ version history, making multiple applications powerful and results-driven.
Regarding the advantages of C++, as a leading object-oriented programming language, users can smartly classify and organize the code. Moreover, they don’t need to rewrite code as they can reuse it.
The famous programming language lets users interact directly with a computer’s hardware, allowing them to manage and leverage computational resources that a system utilizes, including memory, hardware, and software.
