C++ is an object oriented progremming language. It is the 'advanced' form of C programming. C is the most common language for programming, and this is largely due to the fact that it is platofrm independant. In other words, it will work with windows, linux, and mac... etc.
C allows for complete control of the memory operations of the program, and therefore can create more 'powerful' pieces of software than other more simple languages, such as visualy basic or java, can.