C++ project templates
Visual Studio project templates generate source code files, compiler options, menus, toolbars, icons, references, and #include statements that are appropriate for the kind of project you want to create. Visual Studio includes several kinds of C++ project templates and provides wizards for many of them so that you can customize your projects as you create them. Immediately after you create a project, you can build it and run the application; it's good practice to build intermittently as you develop your application.
Note
You can create a C-language project by using C++ project templates. In the generated project, locate files that have a .cpp file name extension and change it to .c. Then, on the Project Properties page for the project (not for the solution), expand Configuration Properties, C/C++ and select Advanced. Change the Compile As setting to Compile as C Code (/TC).
Project templates
The project templates included in Visual Studio depend on the product version and the workloads you've installed. If you've installed the Desktop development with C++ workload, Visual Studio has these C++ project templates.
Windows Desktop
| Project template | Description |
|---|---|
| Windows Console Application | A project for creating a Windows console application. |
| Windows Desktop Application | A project for creating a Windows desktop (Win32) application. |
| Dynamic-Link Library | A project for creating a dynamic-link library (DLL). |
| Static Library | A project for creating a static library (LIB). |
| Windows Desktop Wizard | A wizard for creating Windows desktop applications and libraries with additional options. |
General
| Project template | Description |
|---|---|
| Empty Project | An empty project for creating an application, library, or DLL. You must add any code or resources required. |
| Makefile Project | A project that wraps a Windows makefile in a Visual Studio project. (To open a makefile as-is in Visual Studio, use Open Folder. |
| Shared Items Project | A project used for sharing code files or resource files between multiple projects. This project type does not produce an executable file. |
ATL
| Project template | Description |
|---|---|
| ATL Project | A project that uses the Active Template Library. |
Test
| Project template | Description |
|---|---|
| Native Unit Test Project | A project that contains native C++ unit tests. |
MFC
If you add the MFC and ATL support component to your Visual Studio installation, these project templates are added to Visual Studio.
| Project template | Description |
|---|---|
| MFC Application | A project for creating an application that uses the Microsoft Foundation Class (MFC) Library. |
| MFC ActiveX Control | A project for creating an ActiveX control that uses the MFC library. |
| MFC DLL | A project for creating a dynamic-link library that uses the MFC library. |
Windows Universal Apps
If you add the C++ Windows Universal Platform tools component to your Visual Studio installation, these project templates are added to Visual Studio.
For an overview of Windows Universal apps in C++, see Universal Windows Apps (C++).
| Project template | Description |
|---|---|
| Blank App | A project for a single-page Universal Windows Platform (UWP) app that has no predefined controls or layout. |
| DirectX 11 App | A project for a Universal Windows Platform app that uses DirectX 11. |
| DirectX 12 App | A project for a Universal Windows Platform app that uses DirectX 12. |
| DirectX 11 and XAML App | A project for a Universal Windows Platform app that uses DirectX 11 and XAML. |
| Unit Test App | A project to create a unit test app for Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps. |
| DLL | A project for a native dynamic-link library (DLL) that can be used by a Universal Windows Platform app or runtime component. |
| Static Library | A project for a native static link library (LIB) that can be used by a Universal Windows Platform app or runtime component. |
| Windows Runtime Component | A project for a Windows Runtime component that can be used by a Universal Windows Platform app, regardless of the programming language in which the app is written. |
| Windows Application Packaging Project | A project that creates a UWP package that enables a desktop application to be side-loaded or distributed via the Microsoft Store. |
TODO Comments
Many of the files generated by a project template contain TODO comments to help you identify where you can provide your own source code. For more information about how to add code, see Adding Functionality with Code Wizards and Working with Resource Files.