Differences between C and C++: A Comparison of Programming Languages

AhmedAgiza
2 min readDec 23, 2022

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C and C++ are both programming languages, but they are quite different from each other in terms of their features and capabilities. C is a procedural programming language, while C++ is an object-oriented programming language.

Some key differences between C and C++ are:

  • C++ is an extension of C, so it includes all the features of C and adds additional capabilities.
  • C is a procedural language, which means that it is based on a sequence of steps (procedures) to solve a problem. C++ is an object-oriented language, which means that it is based on the concept of “objects” that represent data and functionality.
  • C does not have support for classes and objects, while C++ has support for both.
  • C++ has a more powerful type system and supports function overloading, which allows you to have multiple functions with the same name but different arguments. C does not have this feature.
  • C++ allows you to define default arguments for functions, which is not possible in C.
  • C++ supports exception handling, which allows you to handle runtime errors in your code in a more structured way. C does not have this feature.

Overall, C++ is a more powerful and flexible language than C, but it is also more complex and requires a longer learning curve.

C and C++ are both general-purpose programming languages and can be used to build a wide range of applications. However, they are often used for different types of projects due to their different characteristics and features.

C is often used for systems programming and developing applications that need to interact with the operating system or hardware directly. It is also used for developing applications that require a high level of performance, such as games or other resource-intensive programs.

C++ is often used for building larger, more complex applications, such as desktop applications, servers, and high-performance applications. It is also used in the development of computer games, as it offers more advanced features than C and can be used to create more sophisticated graphics and other interactive elements.

In general, C is a good choice for systems programming and applications that require a high level of performance, while C++ is a good choice for larger, more complex projects that require advanced features and object-oriented programming capabilities. Both languages are widely used and have a large community of developers, so it is worth considering both when deciding which language to use for a particular project.

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AhmedAgiza

A Graduate Student at NYU. Looking for full-time SWE jobs.