What is C & C++ and its key features?
- C++ and C have become highly renowned programming languages that have been around for a long time and are widely employed in the sector. In fact, C and C++ are two of the most frequently used programming languages, with applications ranging from software development, game creation, and database design to the construction of operating systems, to mention a few.
- Because they both have so much to offer programmers, how can we choose one above the other:
- The primary distinction between C and C++ is that C++ was created as an extension of C. C++ was created to be more user-friendly and to enable programmers to make better use of computer resources. C++ shares some similarities with C, however there are also significant differences. C++ is a wonderful alternative for experienced programmers looking to learn a new programming language. So, first, we’ll go over the fundamentals of C and C++, followed by a tabular depiction of a full head-to-head comparison.
What is C?
- C is a general-purpose, structured programming language designed for system development, i.e. the programmes that form operating systems. It quickly gained popularity for a range of application development because to its flexibility, faster execution, and simplicity.
- It was invented in 1972 by Dennis Ritchie, a computer scientist at Bell Laboratories. C is known as God’s programming language since it is the foundation of several modern languages, including Python, Java, C++, and many more.
- The most popular apps and software created in C demonstrate the language’s popularity and versatility. Working on a variety of operating systems, including Windows, Apple OS X, and Symbian, as well as mobile and desktop operating systems
Key Features of C
- As previously said, C and C++ have various difficulties, purposes, goals, and advantages. And, before we go into the C versus C++ comparison, we should first understand about the features of both.
- C is one of the first programming languages, and it is known for its simplicity and easy-to-understand style.
- Because it serves as the foundation for many programming languages, many programmers recommend C as a good place to start for newbies.
- Portable: The C programming language is platform and system independent. This means that if you develop your code on one platform, you may port or run it on another for updates or upgrades.
- Procedural Language: The C programming language runs code by following a specified programme flow. It separates the code into parts for differential action and reduces complexity.
- Case Sensitive: The C programming language is case sensitive, and “C” and “c” are handled as independent variables.
- C supports dynamic memory allocation. This means that C supports memory space during runtime as well. It aids the coder because they cannot estimate how much space or memory will be required while running the function.
- C includes a library of built-in and user-defined functions to make coding easier for programmers. C has a huge library that can handle a wide range of applications.
What is C++?
C++, often known as C with Classes, is a general-purpose object-oriented programming language used to create high-performance programmes.
- C++ was previously known as C with classes since it was a blend of C and Simula67 (first object-oriented language). This implies that, in addition to the features of the C programming language, C++ introduced the concepts of classes and objects for user-defined data types.
- Bjarne Stroustrup created C++ in 1979. The goal of C++, as the name suggests, was to build a general-purpose language that was not constrained to a specific application. It is used in operating systems, high-end libraries, cloud distributed systems, compilers, game development, wearables, visual programmes, and a range of other applications.
- C++ is no longer merely an extension of the C programming language; with three recent versions and high-end performance, it is moving from a language extension to one of the most popular and in-demand programming languages on the market.
- C++ provides as the foundation for programmers to learn object-oriented programming in a more straightforward and comprehensive manner.
Key Features of C++
Here are some of the important characteristics of the C++ programming language:
- Static Type System: C++ is a compiler-based language. It means that before executing or running the code, we must employ a compiler to make it understandable to the machine.
- Fast and powerful: Because C++ is a compiler-based language, it improves and speeds up code execution. Furthermore, with a large number of functions and data types, etc., it makes the language powerful and a safe bet for programmers.
- In the C++ programming language, a point is the address of a certain object. It is a feature that allows programmers to use pointers to interact with functions, arrays, memory, and structures with less code and more quickly.
- Object-Oriented Language: C++ was an extension of the procedural programming language C, and as such, it featured OOP (object-oriented programming) idea.C++ is an object-oriented programming language, which implies that it organises development design around data and objects rather than the functions or logic that act on them. Attributes and methods are associated with objects.
- For example, “type of programming languages” is a kind of class (blueprint for an object), Python, C++, and C are distinct objects, and features, benefits, and so on are the object’s properties (data). As a result, the OOP ideas connect the data and functions.
OOP concepts include Polymorphism, Encapsulation, Abstraction, Inheritance, and others that aid in code maintenance, prevent data redundancy, assure flexibility and effective issue solutions, and much more.- Extensible: The C++ programming language is noted for its extensibility, as it is adaptable to new features and design changes.
- Additional Capabilities: Because C++ is a superset of the programming language C, it incorporates all of C’s features, such as dynamic memory allocation, rich libraries, structured programming, portability, and so on.
C | C++ |
Dennis Ritchie created C at Bell Laboratories in 1972. | Bjarne Stroustrup of Bell Laboratories created C++ in the early 1980s. |
It is a function-driven programming language. | It is an object-oriented programming language. |
C is a procedural programming language. It does not enable polymorphism, encapsulation, or inheritance programming, which are all characteristics of object-oriented programming (OOP). | C++ is a computer language that is both procedural and object-oriented. Polymorphism, encapsulation, and inheritance are all supported OOP features. |
C is a subset of C++. | C++ is a specialization of C. |
C contains 32 keywords. | C++ contains 63 keywords. |
Supports pre-defined data types | Allows for the use of both built-in and user-defined data types. |
A program’s file extension in C is.c. | The file extension for a C++ application is.cpp. |
There are no access modifiers. | There are access modifiers. |
The header file stdio.h> is used by C. | The header file iostream.h> is used by C++. |
Conclusion
In a nutshell, the major distinction between C and C++ is that C is a procedural language with no support for objects or classes, whereas C++ is a blend of procedural and object-oriented programming languages. We hope that this blog has helped you understand the benefits, applications, disadvantages, and differences between C and C++ so that you can determine which language is best for your projects.