OUR FIRST C++ class:

*   a class is a way to make a new type! although some are
    included with C++
    *   you learn about *writing* your own classes in CS 112,
        but we'll *use* a few classes in CS 111

*   string is a class in C++

    *   classes have their own function-like pieces
        called methods

    *   when you declare a parameter or a named constant
        to be of a type that is a class,

	that parameter or constant is an instance
	of that class

	and that parameter or constant can use that class's methods!

    *   you can call a class instance's methods
        using:

	instance.method_name(arg_expr1, arg_expr2, ...)
 
*   for example, say I have:

    const string MY_NAME = "Sharon M. Tuttle";

    *   hey, string class has a length method
        that expects nothing and returns the length
	of the calling string!

	MY_NAME.length()   // call the length method of string
	                   //   MY_NAME

	MY_NAME.length() == 16

    *   hey, string class has a + operator!

        it lets you append either two string instances
        OR a string and a char*!!

        MY_NAME + MY_NAME == "Sharon M. TuttleSharon M. Tuttle"

        MY_NAME + "!" == "Sharon M. Tuttle!"

        *   (yes, you can use == to compare a string and a char*,
	    fortunately! it returns true if they contain
            the same characters...)