C and C++ are two programming languages widely recognized for their low-level power. Though both languages sound similar, with just an extra "++" on the latter, their features and usage are quite distinctive.
C is a procedural programming language with a static system, while C++ is an extended version of C, with support for object-oriented programming. Therefore, learning C is relevant and helps to improve programming in C++. Among the top programming languages, C and C++ are two of the most popular for learning and skill development.
What Is the C Programming Language?
C is an essential general-purpose computer programming language that supports structural programming, typical machine instructions, recursion, and variables with a static system. The C programming language provides low-level access to handle addresses, bits, and bytes and gives swift control over development.
Dennis M. Ritchie developed the C programming language in 1972 to use with the UNIX operating system. Initially, programmers used the C language to design systems, primarily focusing on operating systems. Gradually, they applied it to develop compilers, assemblers, text editors, databases, and more.
Before learning C programming, you should understand related terminology like argument, function, variable, class, built-in type, loop, array, and more. It helps to write a few lines of code as an exercise. Programmers write C code in text files with an extension of ".c" or ".h".
What Is the C++ Programming Language?
C++ is an enhanced version of the C language and was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup back in 1986. It includes every part of C and adds features like object-oriented programming. Game developers often use C++, but it also has broader use in software infrastructure and desktop apps.
C++ can handle hardware tasks and run code in almost any environment. As a result, C++ is one of the leading choices to create dynamic and agile software that manages system resources and critical tasks.
Like other programming languages, C++ supports features like classes, methods, objects, polymorphism, inheritance, and more. It commonly uses the file extensions ".cpp" and ".cxx", and you may also see extensions like ".c++", and ".h", ".hpp", ".hxx", ".h++" for header files.
C++ had its latest version, C++23, released on June 18, 2021.
C vs C++: The 10 Core Differences
Both C and C++ are general-purpose, procedural languages. However, the core difference between them lies in the fact that the C programming language does not allow for classes and objects, whereas C++ embodies an object-oriented programming paradigm. There are many Let's find out the core differences between C and C++.
Procedure
The C programming language doesn't support object-oriented programming. Consequently, it doesn't allow polymorphism, inheritance, etc. Being an OOP language, C++ does support polymorphism and inheritance.
Security
Since the C language doesn't allow encapsulation, data becomes accessible and other entities can demolish it. However, C++ supports encapsulation, which secures data structure and uses it as required.
Approach
The C programming language encourages a top-down approach, which starts by defining a general problem, then breaks it down into smaller tasks. C++, on the other hand, encourages a bottom-up approach. This involves identifying and defining classes first, then using them to perform the original task.
Input/Output Functions
In C, I/O operations primarily find their handling through standard I/O functions from the C Standard Library, such as printf() and scanf(). These functions offer basic formatting and reading capabilities, but they lack some of the advanced features found in C++.
C++, on the other hand, extends the I/O capabilities through the use of standard I/O streams, which are objects from the iostream library. The cout stream allows for easy and flexible output operations, while the cin stream provides enhanced input functionality. C++ streams support operator overloading, enabling convenient output of complex data types and enabling customized formatting options.
Overloading and Overriding
Method overriding allows a subclass to redefine a function inherited from one of its ancestors. Overloading allows more than one version of the same function, each with unique parameters. C doesn't support either of these, but C++ supports both.
Allocation
C programming relies on two essential functions—calloc() and malloc()—for memory allocation. The accompanying free() function handles memory deallocation. C++ uses the new operator for dynamic memory allocation and the delete operator for deallocation.
Compiling
Software development in C and C++ begins with writing source code. The source code for C files has a c extension, while C++ uses extensions like cpp or cxx for its files. These source code files contain the instructions and logic for the program.
The next step is preprocessing, where the preprocessor handles #include directives and performs macro processing. This step ensures that the source code is ready for compilation by resolving dependencies and macros. The preprocessing stage is common to both C and C++.
During the compilation stage, the source code undergoes transfer to the respective compilers, such as gcc for C and g++ for C++. The compiler checks syntax and semantics, and reports errors. This step applies to both C and C++.
The main difference is due to the additional features in C++, most notably object-oriented programming (OOP) concepts. The C++ compiler handles all C-like syntax, plus OOP features like encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism.
Linking, after compilation, creates executables by combining object files, library files, and dependencies. It resolves external references, ensuring standalone execution. Linking is identical for both C and C++.
Platform
C and C++ both have extensive platform support and can work on various operating systems such as Windows, macOS, Linux, and different UNIX derivatives. This platform versatility allows developers to compile and run C and C++ code seamlessly across multiple platforms.
Many Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) have support for both C and C++. You can use several popular IDEs like Visual Studio, Code::Blocks, Dev-C++, Eclipse, Xcode, and Qt Creator. These IDEs facilitate code writing, debugging, compiling, and other development processes, providing a convenient and efficient environment for software development.
In summary, C and C++ boast broad platform support and offer many choices for IDEs. The languages' ability to run on different platforms and IDEs helps you build versatile applications with ease.
Variables
Generally, the C programming language uses two types of values: literals and variables. C uses four basic variable types: int, float, char, and double. The primary variable types for C++ are bool, void, and wchar_t.
Features
The C programming language is a procedural, fast, and efficient language with modularity and a rich set of built-in operators. Unlike C, C++ is a procedural language with OOP. In addition, it's machine-independent, simple, and case-sensitive.
The C programming language is a mid-level language, while C++ is a high-level language.
C Programming Language | C++ Programming Language |
|---|---|
Can't run C++ code. | Can run nearly all C code. |
Does not support the reference variable. | Supports the reference variable. |
32 keywords in the language. | 95 keywords. Some of them might find placement within several groups. |
Input and output via the <stdio.h> header file. | Uses the <iostream.h> header file. |
Doesn't allow functions in structs. | Allows functions in structs. |
Divides into procedures and modules. | Divides into classes and functions. |
C Programming Language Example
This C program uses the standard input-output library, stdio.h. This library provides the printf function which the program uses to output the message "Hello, MUO!", followed by a newline character, \n.
#include<stdio.h>intmain(){
printf("Hello,MUO!\n");
return0;
}
C++ Programming Language Example
This C++ program uses the input-output stream library, iostream. This library allows the program to use the streaming operators, like <<. The std::cout object represents standard output, which will be the console in most cases.
The inclusion of std::endl results in the addition of a newline character following the message. This is a higher-level abstraction than C's "\n" character, so this program will run on systems that use different characters to represent a newline.
#include<iostream>intmain(){
std::cout << "Hello, MUO!" << std::endl;
return0;
}
Both C and C++ Are Promising for the Foreseeable Future
Many programmers and technology enthusiasts expected C and C++ to lose relevance. However, because of their development features and wide range of applications, C and C++ are still exciting career pathways.
Other languages appear all the time, but often cater to specific needs like web development or game programming. C and C++ are more general-purpose languages, and learning them will be valuable in your career, even just as a basis for learning other languages.
