C++: The Complete Reference

• Authors: Herbert Schildt
• Venue: C++: The Complete Reference
• Year: 1998

From the Book:This is the third edition of C++: The Complete Reference. In the years that have transpired since the second edition, C++ has undergone many changes. Perhaps the most important is that it is now a standardized language. In November of 1997, the ANSI/ISO committee charged with the task of standardizing C++, passed out of committee an international Standard for C++. This event marked the end of a very long, and at times contentious, process. As a member of the ANSI/ISO C++ committee, I watched the progress of the emerging standard, following each debate and argument. Near the end, there was a world-wide, daily dialogue, conducted via e- mail, in which the pros and cons of this or that issue were put forth, and finally resolved. While the process was longer and more exhausting than anyone at first envisioned, the result was worth the trouble. We now have a standard for what is, without question, the most important programming language in the world. During standardization, several new features were added to C++. Some are relatively small. Others, like the STL (Standard Template Library) have ramifications that will affect the course of programming for years to come. The net effect of the additions was that the scope and range of the language were greatly expanded. For example, because of the addition of the numerics library, C++ can be more conveniently used for numeric processing. Of course, the information contained in this edition reflects the International Standard for C++ defined by the ANSI/ISO committee, including its new features.