What is c++ used for? | Top Uses of C++ programming language

The most straightforward answer to this question is: The question is wrong! Yes! The question should be: What C++ is NOT used for!

I agree C++ is an old language now, and many languages, like JAVA, Python, etc. have come up.

But, unfortunately, no programming language can ever replace C++. C++ has extensive uses in real-life. Anywhere and everywhere, you will see C++, used in the back-end.

 Through this article, let us know what can you do with C++.

Introduction to C++

C++ is an object-oriented programming language, developed by Bjarne Stroustrup. Way back in 1979, it was an initiative taken in AT & T Bell Laboratories to combine all the languages’ most useful features. The goal was to develop the most powerful programming language.

C++ has a rich library of functions and methods and is a compiled, statically typed, general-purpose, case sensitive, and a free-form language. C++ is extensively used in the application domain, and the best part- C++ supports the OOPS concept!

Now, let us see what is c++ used for.

Uses of C++

C++ has grown its roots in almost everything. From gaming to Databases, to Operating Systems, C++ is the primary programming language behind many technological components. This language is so much into the real world that even after years of its development and even after the arrival of many other improved languages, we cannot ignore its uses and advantages.

C++ is still used in many domains. Let us discuss one-by-one, top 10 uses of C++. These are the top ten use of C++ in real world application examples.

1) C++ used for Developing Games:

C++ is used in games development!

The best thing about C++ is that it is speedy, and secondly, it is a middle-level language. Hence, it is close to and more easily accessible to the hardware.

Because of being fast and a procedural language, C++ is used to reduce 3D games’ complexities. A vast number of games are developed using the C++ programming language. This language makes it easy to execute intensive functions for the CPU and provide better control over the hardware.

So, next time you dream of developing games, you know which programming language to use for a fast and better gaming experience!

2) C++ used for GUI Applications:

C++ is highly used for developing applications. Moreover, the applications based on Graphical User Interface are more recommended and have an edge, when produced using the C++ programming language.

Many desktops and GUI based applications are developed using C++ and are widely used today in various domains. Let us see some examples of some really important and widely used applications, developed using C++.

• Adobe: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Premiere, Adobe Developers, and image ready. They all and many others are made using C++. Now we know that these are some of the widely used GUI-based applications, which have significant usage in the designing domain.

• WIN AMP Media Player

You cannot deny it, but you have used it, and you rely on this application for years now for all your video/ audio requirements. Right?

This application, by Microsoft, was developed using C++. Today, it is the most popular application, which caters to everybody’s audio and video requirements!

3) C++ used in Operating Systems:

C++ is not only used for developing games and various applications but being the fastest language; it is the best possible programming language to write Operating Systems!

Additionally, C++ has excellent libraries and functions, which helps coders write low-level code in this language, which is apt for developing any Operating System. Microsoft has used C++ for coding most of its operating systems. 

• Few parts of Apple’s operating system are also coded in this fast, procedural language!
• Few technical parts of the iPod are also coded in C++.
• Microsoft applications like Windows 95, 98; ME, XP, etc. are also coded in C++. 
• Some of the good and useful applications, like the IDE Visual Studio, Microsoft Office, and Internet Explorer are also written in C++.

4) C++ used for Development of Compilers:

C++ is a low-level language that is close to the hardware and makes it easy to access and manage the resources. Some of the high-level languages are JAVA, C#, etc. The compilers for these programming languages are mainly coded in either C or C++.

This use of C++ makes it, instead, even more, irreplaceable and hence, we should be more convinced of the advantages of this programming language. In addition to just compilers, C++ and C are also used to develop these languages themselves!

5) C++ used in Web Browsers:

C++ is a very versatile programming language. Developers use C++ for developing games, Operating Systems, Applications, and now Web Browsers too.

The web browser is one of the most irreplaceable parts of our lives since the Internet Era arrived. We all agree to this. Hence, we should acknowledge that C++ plays a unique role in our lives too! 

Can you wait for long, so that the web page loads?

I am sure nobody can. Hence, we need speed, and what can be better than C++ for speed? Some of the best-known browsers and their applications developed using C++ are:

• Google Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox
• Thunderbird
• Google File System.

6) C++ used for Enterprise Software development:

Have you heard of Flight Simulation or Radar Processing? 

These are some of the enterprise software, which are developed using C++. Many other advanced applications and software are also made using C++. The reason is simple: C++ is fast and a procedural language.

7) C++ used in Banking Applications:

Thousands of transactions are done every day. This demands high speed and concurrency.

Hence, C++ is the preferred language for developing banking applications, and many banks are already using C++ as their back-end programming language.

The best example of this is the Infosys Finacle. It is a popular application, which is used for banking on Infosys. It uses C++ as its core programming language. Banking applications require concurrency, multithreading, speed and high performance. All these are main features of C++!

8) C++ used in Scanners:

You might not know till now, what is actually used for the development of scanners!

Let me disclose it to you today! C++ is responsible for the camera scanners and film scanners. They are mainly used in the Pdf formation technologies. These applications are used for forming documents, printing them, and also publishing them. C++ makes it all possible!

9) C++ used for Database Software development:

MySQL- a prevalent database management System- is coded in C++!

C++ is also used for developing some open-source and usual database softwares. MySQL, Postgres, and Bloomberg RDBMS are three of the best-known database software, developed using C++. Quora, Youtube, etc. make extensive use of them.

MySQL is a widely used open-source database software, which is used in almost all organizations. It helps in saving time, packaged software, money, and business systems. This database software is proudly coded in the C++ language!

10) C++ used in Cloud and Distributed systems:

With increasing access to the Internet worldwide, the data available is also growing. Large organizations use cloud systems and need systems that work close to the hardware. C++ is the best-preferred language for the same.

In addition to easy access to hardware, C++ also supports the concept of multithreading that further helps in building concurrent applications. One example of a cloud system is Bloomberg.

Bloomberg is an example of a distributed type of RDBMS application. This application is beneficial for providing real-time news and essential financial information to investors. And Yes! This excellent application is also built using C++.

NOTE: The RDBMS of Bloomberg is written in C language and the set of libraries it uses, and the development environment is coded in the C++ programming language.

Conclusion

After looking at these 10 points, which are the use of C++ programming language, I don’t think you will ever doubt the usefulness of the old language C++!

Where is C++ used in industry?

C++ is used almost everywhere, and here are the main reasons why C++ is the most useful and widely accepted programming language for developing applications, software, and what not!

• Speed:

C++ is the fastest known programming languages. Many domains want speed as their priority, like gaming, websites, etc. you cannot genuinely wait for the back-end code to execute while you wait for it. 

So, speed brings a significant factor; C++ is used for developing games, web servers, database systems, applications, etc.

• Closeness to hardware:

C++ is a low-level language. So, it is closer to the hardware than any other programming language. It manages resources well, and hence, the domains where closeness to hardware is required, C++ is always the preferred language to use!

Hence, now we know how C++ is useful in real life and why it is C++, and not any other programming language is as helpful as it is! C++ is used by many companies and organizations.

So, I hope you enjoyed the article and got a lot of information regarding C++’s uses.

If you have skipped the massive piece of information to reach the end of this blog, finally, I recommend you to at least have a look at the bullet points and then know more about the topic you are most interested in!

Understand the importance of C++ through this article!

Happy Coding!