C++ is a powerful, high-level programming language developed by Bjarne Stroustrup in 1979 at Bell Laboratories. It was designed as an extension of the C programming language, adding object-oriented features to the procedural base of C. This makes C++ a multi-paradigm language, supporting both procedural and object-oriented programming, which helps in writing efficient and reusable code.
One of the main strengths of C++ lies in its object-oriented programming (OOP) features such as classes, inheritance, polymorphism, encapsulation, and abstraction. These features help in designing large and complex software systems in a more structured and modular way. C++ also supports features like function overloading, operator overloading, and exception handling, making it a flexible and powerful tool for developers.