Overview

Updated in May 2025. This course now features Coursera Coach! A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the course. This course is your hands-on gateway to mastering the foundational elements of C++. Whether you're just starting or need a structured refresher, you'll learn how to write, organize, and execute C++ programs with clarity and confidence. By the end, you'll be equipped with the essential coding skills to build real-world programs, setting a strong base for further exploration in software development or systems programming. You’ll start by setting up your development environment and writing your first C++ program. The journey begins with core concepts such as variables, data types, constants, arrays, and user input. Step-by-step, you'll move from basic syntax to logic-building with conditionals and loops, ensuring each concept is grounded in practical exercises and examples. As you progress, you'll dive deeper into functions, scope, and namespaces, followed by file organization and compiling your own projects from the terminal. An extra module introduces you to object-oriented programming, helping you understand classes, constructors, methods, and inheritance — critical concepts for scalable and modular code. This course is ideal for beginners and aspiring programmers who want to learn C++ in a structured, practice-driven way. No prior programming knowledge is required, but you should have basic computer skills such as installing software and using a terminal or command prompt. A computer with internet access is necessary to complete the setup and exercises.

Syllabus

Introduction

In this module, we will introduce you to the course content, guide you on how to follow along for maximum benefit, and help you set up your development environment on Windows, Linux, and MacOS. By the end, you will be ready to dive into writing C++ code effectively.

C++ Basics Level 1

In this module, we will cover the essentials of C++ programming, including your first C++ program, using variables, arrays, and the concept of constants. You will also learn how to interact with users through input, followed by exercises to solidify your understanding.

C++ Basics Level 2

In this module, we will focus on functions in C++, exploring how to define them, pass parameters, and manage return values. You'll also learn about variable scope and namespace usage, building on your previous skills to create more organized and reusable code.

C++ Basics Level 3

In this module, we will delve into conditional statements and loops, essential tools for controlling the flow of your C++ programs. You will learn how to use these concepts to write dynamic code that can respond to varying conditions and process arrays with loops.

C++ Basics Level 4

In this module, we will expand your skills by introducing advanced function handling, code organization practices using .hpp and .cpp files, and show you how to compile and execute C++ programs from the terminal. These skills are crucial for managing larger projects effectively.

Extra: C++ OOP

In this module, we will introduce Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) concepts in C++. You'll learn how to create classes and objects, define their attributes and methods, and understand inheritance to extend functionality and structure your code better.

Conclusion

In this module, we will provide tips and best practices for writing clean, maintainable C++ code. Additionally, we will guide you on how to continue learning and progressing in your C++ journey after completing this course.