C++ beginner question
<p>I am in the process of learning C++ in order to understand some open source code I have been given.</p>

<p>I came across a line as follows:</p>

<pre><code>cmd &lt;&lt; '\n'
</code></pre>

<p>I assumed that "cmd" must be some kind of special receptor for a stream, perhaps a string - but on further investigation I found that "cmd" was an entire class with assorted data and functions. This has completely confused me. Why doesn't the code look like this:</p>

<pre><code>cmd.stringpart &lt;&lt; '\n'
</code></pre>

<p>Can someone tell me what's going on, or suggest an article for me to take a look at.</p>

<p><strong>CORRECTION:</strong> cmd is an instance of a class rather than the class itself.</p>
