C++ is an object-oriented programming language that was developed in the early 1980s as an extension of the C language. It combines low-level access of C with simplified object-oriented programming. Some key features of C++ include classes, data abstraction, inheritance, polymorphism, and object-oriented design. The name C++ uses the increment operator "++", signifying its evolution from C. C++ is a powerful, flexible language suitable for system software development and reusable software components.