The ‘tour’ is a quick (254 pages + index, historical information, etc.) tutorial overview of all of standard C++ (language and standard library) at a moderately high level for people who already know C++ or at least are experienced programmers. It covers C++20 plus a few likely features of C++23.

In A Tour of C++, Third Edition, Bjarne Stroustrup provides an overview of ISO C++, C++20, that aims to give experienced programmers a clear understanding of what constitutes modern C++. Featuring carefully crafted examples and practical help in getting started, this revised and updated edition concisely covers most major language features and the major standard-library components needed for effective use.

Stroustrup presents C++ features in the context of the programming styles they support, such as object-oriented and generic programming. His tour is remarkably comprehensive. Coverage begins with the basics, then ranges widely through more advanced topics, emphasizing newer language features. This edition covers many features that are new in C++20 as implemented by major C++ suppliers, including modules, concepts, coroutines, and ranges. It even introduces some library components in current use that are not scheduled for inclusion in the standard until C++23.

This authoritative guide does not aim to teach you how to program (for that, see Stroustrup’s Programming: Principles and Practice Using C++, Second Edition), nor will it be the only resource you’ll need for C++ mastery (for that, see Stroustrup’s The C++ Programming Language, Fourth Edition, and recommended online sources). If, however, you are a C or C++ programmer wanting greater familiarity with the current C++ language, or a programmer versed in another language wishing to gain an accurate picture of the nature and benefits of modern C++, you won’t find a shorter or simpler introduction.