Birth of C++ (1979) C++ was created by Bjarne Stroustrup at Bell Labs as an extension of the C language, originally called “C with Classes.”
Official Release (1985) C++ was first released commercially in 1985, introducing object-oriented programming (OOP) with features like classes and inheritance.
Standard Template Library (STL) (1994) The STL was introduced, providing powerful generic programming tools like vectors, lists, and algorithms, making C++ more versatile.
C++98: The First ISO Standard (1998) C++ was standardized as ISO/IEC 14882:1998, adding templates, exception handling, and improved type safety.
C++03: Minor Refinements (2003) C++03 improved language stability, fixing bugs and refining features from C++98, but without major new additions.
C++11: A Modern Overhaul (2011) C++11 brought auto keyword, smart pointers, lambda expressions, range-based loops, and multithreading, making coding more efficient.
C++14: Small but Powerful Improvements (2014) Enhancements in C++14 included generic lambdas, return type deduction, and better constexpr support, making code more concise.
C++17: Greater Simplification (2017) C++17 introduced structured bindings, if constexpr, filesystem support, and parallel algorithms, improving performance and usability.
C++20: A Game-Changer (2020) C++20 added concepts (for type safety), modules, coroutines, and the ranges library, pushing the language toward high-performance, modular programming.
The Future: C++23 and Beyond C++ continues to evolve, focusing on safety, simplicity, and efficiency, with improvements like better concurrency, enhanced pattern matching, and more powerful standard libraries.