C++: The Complete Reference

The C Subset
T
his book divides the description of the C++ language into
two parts. Part One discusses the C-like features of C++.
This is commonly referred to as the C subset of C++. Part Two
describes those features specific to C++. Together, they describe
the entire C++ language.
As you may know, C++ was built upon the foundation of C.
In fact, C++ includes the entire C language, and (with minor
exceptions) all C programs are also C++ programs. When C++
was invented, the C language was used as the starting point. To C
were added several new features and extensions designed to