How to search for C++ on Web of Science?

When searching for C++ on Web of Science, keep in mind that the ++ symbols may not always be interpreted correctly because they are treated as special characters by some search systems. The most effective approach is to search for "C++" in quotation marks and combine it with related keywords such as programming, software, compiler, or object-oriented programming to improve the relevance of your results. You can also use the Advanced Search option with a query like TS=("C++"), where TS searches the title, abstract, and keywords. If the search returns unrelated results, refining your query with additional programming-related terms will help you find articles specifically about the C++ programming language.

Try using the wildcard character, which is usually an asterisk, to bypass the symbol issue. Instead of fighting with the plus signs, search for "C*" combined with specific technical terms. While this might pull in some "C" language results, it's often faster than filtering through millions of noise hits. Another trick is to search for the language's specific standards or unique libraries. Try searching for "ISO/IEC 14882" or terms like "STL" (Standard Template Library) and "smart pointers." These are unique to C++ and will likely lead you to the exact papers you need without the database stripping your symbols. If you're still getting too much fluff, use the "NOT" operator to exclude common unrelated terms. For example, if your search is bringing up chemistry papers because of the "C" symbol, add NOT "carbon" or NOT "chemistry" to your query. This cleans up the results list significantly. You can also check the "Research Areas" filter on the left sidebar after your search. Selecting "Computer Science" or "Software Engineering" will instantly hide the non-technical results that usually plague "C++" searches. This is a quick way to narrow your scope.