Microsoft calls Visual C++ an integrated development environment (IDE) tool to complement C, C++ and C++/CLI programming. It is a commercial software with a free version available. Visual C++ contains various code base handling tools and development tools for use with the Microsoft Windows application programming interfaces (APIs) and the Microsoft .NET platform.

Like other similar programming language products, Visual C++ includes runtime packages and libraries for creating different compilations of function calls, procedures and other code elements that work within integrated software environments.