ANSI and ISO Standard C++, library, API, structure, definition

[jackson6612]

Hi

Please use simple explanations so that I could fully appreciate your help. Thanks.

1: I have been told that the standard for C++ is set up by ANSI. But I have also read somewhere that there is also ISO standard for C++. What is it? ANSI is American, and ISO is international.

2: How would define a library? A set containing same type of functions? e.g math library would contain functions such as sqrt(). The reference to that library is made using the header file.

3: API: I have tried several sources but couldn't get any general understanding of this. Do you have some simple explanation for a beginner like me?

4: int, float, char are different data types. What is a definition, and a structure?

Please help me with the above queries. Thanks.

Best wishes
Jackson

[Salem]

1. The languages were first standardised by ANSI, but then later adopted "as is" by ISO (IIRC, it's only the intro blurb and page numbering which differ). The correct reference is to refer to the ISO standard.

2. How would define a library? A set containing same type of functions?
Pretty much, yes.

3. A library provides an interface, and the API tells you how to use it.
The functions in a math library tend to be self-contained. But a GUI library might have complex rules (say create a window before you can draw on it).