Top C++ books recommended by experts

At MentorCruise, we are all about making the most out of the experience of others. As part of that, we've connected and asked dozens of experts and professionals about their favourite C++ books – and here are the answers.

Table of Contents

Fundamentals of C++

Understanding the concepts of C++ starts with understanding the fundamentals. On your way to mastery, it's crucial for you to understand how certain concepts were derived, and why things work like they do. Starting with these resources is the best way to do so.

C++ Templates: The Complete Guide

C++ Templates: The Complete Guide provides software architects and engineers with a clear understanding of why, when, and how to use templates to build and maintain cleaner, faster, and smarter software more efficiently. C++ Templates begins with an insightful tutorial on basic concepts and language features.

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C++ Pocket Reference

The C++ Pocket Reference is a memory aid for C++ programmers, enabling them to quickly look up usage and syntax for unfamiliar and infrequently used aspects of the language. The book's small size makes it easy to carry about, ensuring that it will always be at-hand when needed.

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The C++ Standard Library: A Tutorial and Reference

he C++ standard library provides a set of common classes and interfaces that greatly extend the core C++ language. The library, however, is not self-explanatory. To make full use of its components–and to benefit from their power–you need a resource that does far more than list the classes and their functions.

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Learn C++ Quickly: A Complete Beginner's Guide to Learning C++, Even If You're New to Programming

The most successful programs of the last 30 years were developed in C++. From Microsoft Word to Facebook to Adobe Photoshop, C++ is at the heart of the most lucrative technologies in today’s world. C++ is the most powerful programming language in the modern world for one simple reason: It allows for complete control, not only of the program’s logic and graphical user interface, but of the hard…

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C++ Primer (5th Edition)

C++ Primer, Fifth Edition, introduces the C++ standard library from the outset, drawing on its common functions and facilities to help you write useful programs without first having to master every language detail. The book’s many examples have been revised to use the new language features and demonstrate how to make the best use of them. This book is a proven tutorial for those new to C++, an…

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LLVM Techniques, Tips, and Best Practices Clang and Middle-End Libraries: Design powerful and reliable compilers using the latest libraries and tools from LLVM

Every programmer or engineer, at some point in their career, works with compilers to optimize their applications. Compilers convert a high-level programming language into low-level machine-executable code. LLVM provides the infrastructure, reusable libraries, and tools needed for developers to build their own compilers. With LLVM’s extensive set of tooling, you can effectively generate code fo…

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Additional C++ Reading

These books are not required for you to learn C++, but they are highly recommended for you to deepen your knowledge.

C++17 - The Complete Guide

This book presents all the new language and library features of C++17. It covers the motivation and context of each new feature with examples and background information. The focus is on how these features impact day-to-day programming, what it means to combine them, and how to benefit from this in practice.

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C++ Template Metaprogramming: Concepts, Tools, and Techniques from Boost and Beyond

C++ Template Metaprogramming sheds light on the most powerful idioms of today's C++, at long last delivering practical metaprogramming tools and techniques into the hands of the everyday programmer. A metaprogram is a program that generates or manipulates program code.

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Effective STL

Highlights of Effective STL include: Advice on choosing among standard STL containers (like vector and list), nonstandard STL containers (like hash_set and hash_map), and non-STL containers (like bitset). Techniques to maximize the efficiency of the STL and the programs that use it.

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C++ coding standards

The main point of a C++ coding standard is to provide a set of rules for using C++ for a particular purpose in a particular environment. It follows that there cannot be one coding standard for all uses and all users.

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Programming: Principles and Practice Using C++

An Introduction to Programming by the Inventor of C++ Preparation for Programming in the Real World The book assumes that you aim eventually to write non-trivial programs, whether for work in software development or in some other technical field. Focus on Fundamental Concepts and Techniques The book explains fundamental concepts and techniques in greater depth than traditional introductions. T…

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Specializations and Deeper C++ Knowledge

You've got your basics in order – time to move on to some advanced and specialized concepts. C++ is evolving every day, these books can help you master it.

GPU Zen 2: Advanced Rendering Techniques

Exploring recent developments in the rapidly evolving field of game real-time rendering, GPU Zen assembles a high-quality collection of cutting-edge contributions for programming the GPU.

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Advanced Metaprogramming in Classic C++

Advanced Metaprogramming in Classic C++ aims to be both an introduction and a reference to C++ template metaprogramming (TMP); TMP is presented in the book as a set of techniques that will bring a new style in C++ and make code exceptionally clear and efficient.

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C# & C++: 5 Books in 1 - The #1 Coding Course from Beginner to Advanced (2024) (Computer Programming)

In C# & C++: 5 Books in 1 - 5 Books in 1 - The #1 Coding Course from Beginner to Advanced (2024), you won't just learn C# and C++; you'll master them. This comprehensive guide is tailored for both beginners and experienced programmers, offering a bootcamp-style approach that simplifies learning with practical examples, hands-on exercises, and real-world applications.
Whether you're just sta…

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