Prior to a discussion of the use of C++ as a language for circuit description and simulation, one must understand the basic mechanics of the C++ language and, in particular, how this language supports the object-oriented paradigm [5], [11], [20]. Since this programming methodology is not yet as popular or as well known as the structured programming paradigm, it is felt that devoting a chapter to object-oriented programming and C++ will enhance one's understanding of how this paradigm and the language itself can benefit the areas of hardware description and simulation. Many of the topics discussed in this chapter will be used extensively in the following chapters on hardware description and simulation; therefore it is important that these features be clearly addressed.