Why is there a class keyword in C++?

Question

This question came to my mind when I learned C++ with a background of C. Even if there was a struct why did Stroustrup felt it was necessary to introduce the <

Answer 1

Bjarne Stroustrup, the original designer of C++, was strongly inspired by the Simula programming language. That is where he got the class concept and the name "class".

As indicated in the answer which quoted "Design and Evolution", the real question Bjarne asked himself wasn't "Why introduce a class keyword?". Instead he asked "Should a struct behave similarly to a class?". Bjarne decided that they should. This article from 1997 argues that he made the wrong decision.