C++ is not the go-to language for web development today, but it can be used in specific scenarios—especially when performance is critical. Here’s a clear overview of C++ in web development, when to use it, and how it compares to more common web stacks.
💡 Can You Use C++ for Web Development?
Yes, but it’s not typical for front-end or high-level backend work.
C++ is used in web development when you need:
🔥 High performance (e.g., game engines, 3D rendering, simulations)
💻 Server-side performance (e.g., low-latency systems, embedded apps)
🧠 System-level tasks (custom web servers, protocol handling, etc.)
⚙️ Where C++ Fits in Web Development
Use Case | How C++ Is Used |
---|---|
Web server backend (high perf.) | Use C++ frameworks to handle HTTP, routing |
WebAssembly (WASM) | Compile C++ code to run in browser via WASM |
Game/WebGL engines | Backend C++ code, frontend JS or Unity/WebGL |
API-heavy systems | C++ handles computation, exposed via REST APIs |
Custom servers | Like writing an NGINX module in C++ |
🛠️ Popular C++ Frameworks for Web Dev
1. CppCMS
High-performance web development framework in C++
Supports session management, templates, i18n, JSON, etc.
🔗 https://cppcms.com
2. Crow
Fast and lightweight C++ micro web framework (inspired by Flask)
Uses modern C++11 features
🔗 https://crowcpp.org
3. Wt (WebToolkit)
C++ library for developing interactive web UIs
Uses a desktop-app-like model
Built-in support for widgets, sessions, routing, and DBs
🔗 https://www.webtoolkit.eu/wt
4. Pistache
Modern, lightweight HTTP server for C++
Used in IoT/web APIs
🔗 https://github.com/pistacheio/pistache
🌐 C++ and WebAssembly (WASM)
You can compile C++ to WebAssembly to run high-performance C++ code in the browser.
Tools:
Emscripten
,LLVM
,Wasm-bindgen
Use Case: Games, 3D rendering, simulation in the browser
Example: Figma uses WebAssembly for performance-critical features
🧑💻 Sample Project Ideas with C++
Project | Tools |
---|---|
Custom HTTP server | CppCMS, Crow, or Pistache |
Chat server/client (WebSockets) | Boost.Asio + Crow |
Real-time game backend | C++ with WebSockets |
C++ compiled to WASM frontend app | Emscripten + HTML/CSS UI |
IoT REST API backend | Pistache + MongoDB/CouchDB |
❗ Should You Use C++ for Web Dev?
Factor | Verdict |
---|---|
Learning web basics | ❌ Better to use JS, Python, or PHP |
High-perf backend | ✅ If speed & efficiency matter |
Frontend UI work | ❌ Not suitable (use JS/React/etc.) |
Embedded/IoT projects | ✅ Very common and effective |
✅ When C++ Makes Sense in Web Dev
You’re building a custom backend that needs performance (e.g., game servers, financial services)
You’re a C++ developer adding web capabilities to an existing codebase
You need to run logic in the browser using WebAssembly
You work with embedded systems or hardware communication APIs