What is C?
C is a structural or procedural oriented programming language which is machine-independent and extensively used in various applications.
C is the basic programming language that can be used to develop from the operating systems (like Windows) to complex programs like Oracle database, Git, Python interpreter, and many more. C programming language can be called a god's programming language as it forms the base for other programming languages. If we know the C language, then we can easily learn other programming languages. C language was developed by the great computer scientist Dennis Ritchie at the Bell Laboratories. It contains some additional features that make it unique from other programming languages.
What is C++?
C++ is a special-purpose programming language developed by Bjarne Stroustrup at Bell Labs circa 1980. C++ language is very similar to C language, and it is so compatible with C that it can run 99% of C programs without changing any source of code though C++ is an object-oriented programming language, so it is safer and well-structured programming language than C.
Let's understand the differences between C and C++.
The following are the differences between C and C++:
- Definition
C is a structural programming language, and it does not support classes and objects, while C++ is an object-oriented programming language that supports the concept of classes and objects.
- Type of programming language
C supports the structural programming language where the code is checked line by line, while C++ is an object-oriented programming language that supports the concept of classes and objects.
- Developer of the language
Dennis Ritchie developed C language at Bell Laboratories while Bjarne Stroustrup developed the C++ language at Bell Labs circa 1980.
- Subset
C++ is a superset of C programming language. C++ can run 99% of C code but C language cannot run C++ code.
- Type of approach
C follows the top-down approach, while C++ follows the bottom-up approach. The top-down approach breaks the main modules into tasks; these tasks are broken into sub-tasks, and so on. The bottom-down approach develops the lower level modules first and then the next level modules.
- Security
In C, the data can be easily manipulated by the outsiders as it does not support the encapsulation and information hiding while C++ is a very secure language, i.e., no outsiders can manipulate its data as it supports both encapsulation and data hiding. In C language, functions and data are the free entities, and in C++ language, all the functions and data are encapsulated in the form of objects.
- Function Overloading
Function overloading is a feature that allows you to have more than one function with the same name but varies in the parameters. C does not support the function overloading, while C++ supports the function overloading.
- Function Overriding
Function overriding is a feature that provides the specific implementation to the function, which is already defined in the base class. C does not support the function overriding, while C++ supports the function overriding.
- Reference variables
C does not support the reference variables, while C++ supports the reference variables.
- Keywords
C contains 32 keywords, and C++ supports 52 keywords.
- Namespace feature
A namespace is a feature that groups the entities like classes, objects, and functions under some specific name. C does not contain the namespace feature, while C++ supports the namespace feature that avoids the name collisions.
- Exception handling
C does not provide direct support to the exception handling; it needs to use functions that support exception handling. C++ provides direct support to exception handling by using a try-catch block.
- Input/Output functions
In C, scanf and printf functions are used for input and output operations, respectively, while in C++, cin and cout are used for input and output operations, respectively.
- Memory allocation and de-allocation
C supports calloc() and malloc() functions for the memory allocation, and free() function for the memory de-allocation. C++ supports a new operator for the memory allocation and delete operator for the memory de-allocation.
- Inheritance
Inheritance is a feature that allows the child class to reuse the properties of the parent class. C language does not support the inheritance while C++ supports the inheritance.
- Header file
C program uses <stdio.h> header file while C++ program uses <iostream.h> header file.
Let's summarize the above differences in a tabular form.
| No. |
C |
C++ |
| 1) |
C follows the procedural style programming. |
C++ is multi-paradigm. It supports both procedural and object oriented. |
| 2) |
Data is less secured in C. |
In C++, you can use modifiers for class members to make it inaccessible for outside users. |
| 3) |
C follows the top-down approach. |
C++ follows the bottom-up approach. |
| 4) |
C does not support function overloading. |
C++ supports function overloading. |
| 5) |
In C, you can't use functions in structure. |
In C++, you can use functions in structure. |
| 6) |
C does not support reference variables. |
C++ supports reference variables. |
| 7) |
In C, scanf() and printf() are mainly used for input/output. |
C++ mainly uses stream cin and cout to perform input and output operations. |
| 8) |
Operator overloading is not possible in C. |
Operator overloading is possible in C++. |
| 9) |
C programs are divided into procedures and modules |
C++ programs are divided into functions and classes. |
| 10) |
C does not provide the feature of namespace. |
C++ supports the feature of namespace. |
| 11) |
Exception handling is not easy in C. It has to perform using other functions. |
C++ provides exception handling using Try and Catch block. |
| 12) |
C does not support the inheritance. |
C++ supports inheritance. |
