C++ classes are a cornerstone of its object-oriented programming paradigm, allowing you to bundle data and behaviors into neat, reusable structures.

🏗️ Defining a Class

You start with the class keyword:

class Dog {
public:
    string name;
    string breed;

    void speak() {
        cout << name << " says woof!" << endl;
    }
};

• public means accessible outside the class
• You can also use private and protected to control access

🐾 Creating and Using an Object

Dog myDog;
myDog.name = "Fido";
myDog.breed = "Labrador";
myDog.speak();  // Fido says woof!

🛠️ Constructors and Destructors

Used to initialize and clean up objects:

class Dog {
public:
    Dog(string n, string b) { name = n; breed = b; }  // Constructor
    ~Dog() {}  // Destructor

    void speak() {
        cout << name << " says woof!" << endl;
    }

private:
    string name;
    string breed;
};

Dog myDog("Fido", "Labrador");

🧬 Inheritance

C++ supports single and multiple inheritance:

class Puppy : public Dog {
public:
    void speak() {
        cout << "Squeak!" << endl;
    }
};

⚙️ Accessors and Encapsulation

To safely access private variables:

class Dog {
private:
    string name;

public:
    void setName(string n) { name = n; }
    string getName() { return name; }
};

💡 Other Key Concepts

• Static members: Shared across all instances
• Friend functions: Access private data from outside
• Operator overloading: Customize behavior of +, ==, etc.

C++ classes give you fine-grained control and performance—all while promoting clean, scalable code.