~/Comparison of C and C Plus Plus

Jul 14, 2022

C is a procedural programming language developed for system programming and low level memory management. C++ builds on C by introducing object oriented programming and other enhancements.

Key Differences:

Syntax
C and C++ have similar syntax and share most keywords. However, C++ adds new keywords and grammar for classes, templates, namespaces, and exceptions.

Programming Paradigm
C supports procedural programming only. C++ supports procedural, object oriented and generic programming paradigms.

Standard Libraries
C has a smaller standard library focused on basic I O and string handling.
C++ adds the Standard Template Library STL, containing advanced data structures and algorithms.

Memory Management
Both give control over memory via pointers and manual allocation, but C++ also provides constructors, destructors and RAII for safer memory management.

Sample Code

C

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#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
    printf("Hello from C\n");
    return 0;
}

C++

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#include <iostream>
int main() {
    std::cout << "Hello from C++" << std::endl;
    return 0;
}

Use Cases
C is preferred for OS kernels and embedded systems due to close hardware control.
C++ is used for applications, game engines, and systems where complex abstractions and performance are needed.

In summary, use C for lightweight, hardware focused tasks and C++ for larger projects needing abstraction and advanced features.