C++ is a general-purpose programming language that was developed as an extension of the C programming language. It was created by Bjarne Stroustrup in the early 1980s and is known for its efficiency, flexibility, and ability to directly manipulate hardware resources. C++ supports multiple programming paradigms, including procedural, object-oriented, and generic programming. C++ is widely used in various domains such as system programming, game development, embedded systems, and high-performance computing. It provides features like classes, templates, inheritance, polymorphism, and exception handling, which allow developers to write complex and efficient programs. C++ also has a large standard library that provides a wide range of functions and classes for different purposes. Overall, C++ is a powerful and versatile programming language that offers low-level control and high-level abstraction, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.