# Installing C++
Before you can start programming in C++, you will need to have a compiler installed on your system. A compiler is a program that converts the C++ code you write into an executable file that your computer can run. There are several popular C++ compilers to choose from, depending on your operating system and preference.

### Windows
For Windows, one popular option is to install the [Microsoft Visual Studio IDE](https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/vs/), which includes the Microsoft Visual C++ compiler (MSVC).

Alternatively, you can also install the [MinGW-w64](https://mingw-w64.org/) compiler system, which is a Windows port of the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC). To install MinGW-w64, follow these steps:

- Download the installer from [here](https://sourceforge.net/projects/mingw-w64/files/).
- Run the installer and select your desired architecture, version, and install location.
- Add the `bin` folder inside the installation directory to your system's `PATH` environment variable.

### macOS
For macOS, you can install the Apple LLVM `clang` compiler which is part of the Xcode Command Line Tools. To do this, open a terminal and enter:

```
xcode-select --install
```

This will prompt a dialog to install the Command Line Tools, which includes the `clang` compiler.

### Linux
On Linux, you can install the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) through your distribution's package manager. Here are some examples for popular Linux distributions:

- Ubuntu, Debian, and derivatives:
```
sudo apt-get install g++ build-essential
```

- Fedora, CentOS, RHEL, and derivatives:
```
sudo dnf install gcc-c++ make
```

- Arch Linux and derivatives:
```
sudo pacman -S gcc make
```

### Checking the Installation
To confirm that the compiler is installed and available on your system, open a terminal/command prompt, and enter the following command:

```
g++ --version
```

You should see output displaying the version of your installed C++ compiler.

Now you're ready to start writing and compiling your C++ code!