C++ Basics and Core Concepts

This course 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. Unlock the world of C++ with a hands-on, project-based introduction to one of the most powerful programming languages in the world. In this course, you’ll learn how to build practical applications using foundational concepts like variables, operators, control statements, arrays, and vectors—all while writing real code from the very beginning. You'll begin by setting up your development environment on Windows, macOS, or Linux, then move into essential programming concepts. The course introduces core syntax, data types, arithmetic and logical operations, and helps you understand how C++ handles user input. Each concept is paired with small projects like a tip calculator and secret agent ID generator to reinforce learning through application. As you progress, you’ll explore control statements, loops, and decision-making logic through interactive exercises and mini-projects like a leap year checker and rock-paper-scissors game. Later, you’ll dive deep into data structures such as arrays and vectors, learning how to manipulate collections of data using built-in and class-based structures. This course is ideal for beginners with little to no programming experience who want to get started with C++. No prior coding knowledge is required—just curiosity and a willingness to learn. Whether you're preparing for a computer science degree or exploring programming as a new skill, this course provides a solid foundation. By the end of the course, you will be able to set up a C++ development environment, write structured code using variables and control logic, build small interactive applications, and apply core data structures like arrays and vectors effectively in your programs.