Statements and structure
A C++ program is a list of statements that the computer executes one after another. The language has strict rules — called syntax — about how those statements must be written. Get the syntax slightly wrong and the program will refuse to run. The good news is the rules are small and consistent: once you have learned the basic shape of a statement you can read almost any C++ program.
Comments
Comments are notes for humans that the computer ignores. Use them generously to explain why your code does something, not what it does. Future-you (and your teammates) will thank you.
```cpp
#include <iostream>int main() { std::cout << "Hello, World!\n"; return 0; } ```
Case sensitivity and whitespace
C++ is case sensitive — Total and total are two different names. Indentation makes code readable; in some languages it is purely cosmetic and in others (like Python) it is part of the syntax. Always indent the body of a block.