C++ Tutorial: Identifiers

In C++, an identifier is a symbolic name that is used to represent something in a program, such as a variable, function, class, or object. Identifiers are used to make the code more readable and understandable, and they must follow certain rules and conventions.

Syntax

The syntax for identifiers in C++ is as follows:

<name> ::= <letter> | '_' | <name> <letter> | <name> <digit>
<letter> ::= 'A' | ... | 'Z' | 'a' | ... | 'z'
<digit> ::= '0' | ... | '9'

Here, <name> represents the name of the identifier, <letter> represents any letter of the alphabet (uppercase or lowercase), <digit> represents any digit, and '_' represents an underscore.

Example

Here is an example of an identifier in C++:

int num_students = 10;

In this example, num_students is the identifier for a variable that represents the number of students in a class.

Output

The output of the above example will be the value of the variable num_students, which is 10.

Explanation

In C++, identifiers are used to give names to variables, functions, classes, and other program elements. The use of meaningful names makes the code more understandable and easier to read, which is especially important in larger programs.

Identifiers must follow certain rules and conventions, such as not starting with a digit, not using reserved keywords, and using camelCase naming conventions for variables and functions.

Use

Identifiers are used throughout C++ programs to represent various elements, such as:

• Variables: Used to store data and values.
• Functions: Used to perform tasks and operations.
• Classes: Used to define objects and their behaviors.
• Objects: Instances of a class.

It is important to choose meaningful and descriptive names for identifiers, as this makes the code more understandable and easier to maintain.

Important Points

• Identifiers must start with a letter or an underscore.
• Identifiers should use camelCase naming conventions for variables and functions.
• Reserved keywords cannot be used as identifiers.
• Descriptive and meaningful names should be chosen for identifiers.
• Identifiers are used to represent variables, functions, classes, and other program elements.

Summary

In this tutorial, we learned about identifiers in C++. Identifiers are symbolic names used to represent variables, functions, classes, and other program elements. They must follow certain rules and conventions, and should use meaningful and descriptive names. Identifiers are an important part of writing maintainable and readable code.