C++ class for arduino

I'm writing a script in C++ in visual studio. It'll be reading in Serial data from the arduino. Anyway, I'm new to classes.

The arduino will send temperature values to my c++ program and I wanted to put it in a class. I know that private variables are the ones whose values you obtain and work with, but must this value be constant throughout the entire lifespan of the program? So I was wondering if it would it be bad practice if I made my temperature variable private, and constantly update that private variable.

You should read about classes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C++_classes,
but probably a full C++ beginners futorial would also be useful.

must this value be constant throughout the entire lifespan of the program?

Of course not.

So I was wondering if it would it be bad practice if I made my temperature variable private, and constantly update that private variable.

Not at all.

No, why would it need to be constant through the lifespan of the object? Your object reflects a temperature reading so it makes sense that it changes throughout its life.

Whether you need a class to just store a temperature is debatable; it makes sense to use a class if you store e.g. a time and the temperature at that time.

and now I don't have to feel so unsure about it anymore. Thanks PaulS! Thanks sterretje!