gcc.info: Invoking G++

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Compiling C++ Programs

   C++ source files conventionally use one of the suffixes `.C', `.cc',
`.cpp', `.c++', `.cp', or `.cxx'; preprocessed C++ files use the suffix
`.ii'.  GCC recognizes files with these names and compiles them as C++
programs even if you call the compiler the same way as for compiling C
programs (usually with the name `gcc').
   However, C++ programs often require class libraries as well as a
compiler that understands the C++ language--and under some
circumstances, you might want to compile programs from standard input,
or otherwise without a suffix that flags them as C++ programs.  `g++'
is a program that calls GCC with the default language set to C++, and
automatically specifies linking against the C++ library.  On many
systems, the script `g++' is also installed with the name `c++'.
   When you compile C++ programs, you may specify many of the same
command-line options that you use for compiling programs in any
language; or command-line options meaningful for C and related
languages; or options that are meaningful only for C++ programs.  *Note
Options Controlling C Dialect: C Dialect Options, for explanations of
options for languages related to C.  *Note Options Controlling C++
Dialect: C++ Dialect Options, for explanations of options that are
meaningful only for C++ programs.