NESO Academy: Basics of C++ - Lecture on Keywords and Identifiers

Chapter Overview

• Chapter Transition: Completed the introduction to C++; now starting on the basics of C++.
• Objective: Understand basics of C++ to ease future learning.
• Current Lecture: "Keywords and Identifiers".

Lecture Topics

1. Keywords
2. Identifiers

Keywords

• Definition: Special words with special meanings in C++.
  • Play a key role and cannot be used as identifiers.
• C++ 17 Keywords: Total of 95 (not listed completely here).

Examples of Keywords

• Double: Represents a decimal number with high precision.
• Or: Connects two conditions, where fulfilling one satisfies the whole.
• If: Checks a condition to execute specific code if true.
• True/False: Denotes correctness or incorrectness.
• Void: Indicates a function with no return value.

Identifiers

• Definition: Names given to variables, functions, or objects in C++.
• Understanding Entities:
  • Object: Storage location in memory.
  • Variable: Named object or storage location.
  • Function: Block of code for specific tasks.

Identifier Naming Rules

1. Cannot be a keyword: Keywords have reserved meanings.
2. Characters Allowed: Only letters, digits, and underscores. No special characters.
3. Starting Character: Must start with a letter or underscore, not a digit.
   • Not advisable to start with an underscore as it’s meant for system implementations.
4. Case Sensitivity: Identifiers are case-sensitive in C++ (e.g., variable, Variable, VARIABLE are different).

Conclusion

• The lecture covered the role and rules of keywords and identifiers in C++.
• Emphasis on the importance of naming conventions and understanding the distinct roles of C++ language constructs.

Thank you for participating in this session. See you in the next lecture!

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Applause and background music sign off