C++98 is the first standardized version of the C++ programming language, officially published in 1998 by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). It builds upon the original C++ language developed by Bjarne Stroustrup in the early 1980s, introducing features like templates, exception handling, and the Standard Template Library (STL), which provides a collection of useful data structures and algorithms. This version aimed to enhance the language's capabilities while maintaining compatibility with the existing C language. C++98 laid the groundwork for future updates and revisions, such as C++03 and C++11, which introduced even more advanced features and improvements to the language.