C++ does not directly correspond to a generation in the traditional algebraic division of programming languages.
Most popular general-purpose languages today, such as C, C++, C#, Java, BASIC and Pascal, are also third-generation languages, although each of these languages can be further subdivided into other categories based on other contemporary traits. Most 3GLs support structured programming.
The traditional algebraic division of programming languages usually divides programming languages into several generations, such as the first generation is machine language, the second generation is assembly language, and the third generation is high-level programming languages (such as FORTRAN, COBOL, C, etc.). These divisions are mainly based on the language's level of abstraction and its closeness to human language.
However, as a high-level programming language, C++'s design and development go far beyond this simple classification framework. C++ is an object-oriented programming language developed by Bjarne Stroustrup in the early 1980s to address the limitations of the C language in developing large software projects. C++ combines the procedural features of C with object-oriented features such as classes, inheritance, encapsulation, and polymorphism, making it a powerful and flexible programming language.
Therefore, although C++ can be considered a high-level programming language (i.e., third generation or higher in the traditional classification), it does not directly correspond to a specific generational division. C++ is unique in its rich features and wide application areas, from system software to application software, to embedded systems and game development.