What are the 5 main features C++ adds to C?

Classes & inheritance, exception handling, templates, namespaces, and the STL.

1. Classes & inheritance — object orientation: encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism
2. Exception handling — try/catch/throw for structured error handling
3. Templates — generic, type-independent code (the foundation of the STL)
4. Namespaces — group names to avoid collisions (std::, using namespace)
5. STL — ready-made containers, iterators, and algorithms

C++ is an extension of C: all of C still works, and these features sit on top.

Famous quote by Bjarne Stroustrup (C++'s creator):

"C makes it easy to shoot yourself in the foot; C++ makes it harder, but when you do it blows your whole leg off."

Go deeper:

• What is C++? — isocpp FAQ — the big-picture view of the language and its features.