What are the differences between C, C++, and Java?

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Published on October 29th, 2022

Table of Contents [show]

Table of Contents

Introduction

Software development has seen a transition like any other domain. This also led to the development of programming languages. C, C++, and Java are three languages ??that have defined programming paradigms over time and have great value in the market. In this article, we will compare the differences between C, C++, and Java so that you can choose one or more for a potential career or certification.

C Programming Language

Dennis Ritchie developed one of the earliest general-purpose Programming Languages of all time, C, at Bell Labs from 1972 to 1973. C was created to build Unix-compatible tools, and it was also used to reimplement the Unix kernel.

C is used in the creation of portable systems and firmware in the modern world. C supports structured programming, the scope of lexical variables, and recursion with a static type system. C is a middle-level language that combines high- and low-level language features.

Key Features of C Language

Now let's examine some of C's main characteristics:-

Learning the structured programming language C is fairly simple.
This programming language is effective. This indicates that it moves quickly and effectively.
Programming in C is very portable and extensible and is not dependent on any specific hardware or system. Any C-written code can run without any modifications on any computer that supports the language.
The built-in operators and function libraries in C are extensive.
C is statically typed and modular.

Our Learners Also Read: Advanced Java Interview Questions

C++ Programming Language

C++ is among the most widely used programming languages in a variety of industries, including game engines, high-frequency trading, etc. Bjarne Stroustrup created it as an expansion of the already-existing C programming language. It is a semi-object-oriented programming language. The compiled language C++ commonly referred to as "C plus classes," has developed over time and has become more diverse. With the ability to create desktop programs, video games, servers for e-commerce, online and database searches, and high-performance applications like telephone switches and space probes, C++ has found employment in many major software businesses, including Microsoft, IBM, and others.

C++ supports object-oriented principles such as inheritance, encapsulation, and polymorphism (static and dynamic). But C++ code can be compiled without classes or creating objects. Therefore, it is rightly referred to as a semi-object-oriented language.

Key Features of C++ Language

1. Static and dynamic memory allocation: Static and dynamic allocation is possible in C++. Accordingly, C++ enables users to allocate memory to variables, objects, etc. both at compile time (static memory allocation) and at runtime (dynamic memory allocation). Malloc(), Calloc(), Realloc(), etc. are all methods that can be used to allocate memory dynamically.

2. Creating templates: C++ templates enforce generic programming. A template basically means creating a generic function, class, etc., that would perform a specific task for more than one data type.

3. Operator Overloading: C++ supports operator overloading, which gives a particular operator a different meaning than what it is normally used for. For example, the addition operator ("+") in C++ generally adds two numbers, whether integer or fractional values. However, it can also be overloaded by concatenating two strings or adding two complex number objects.

4. Lambda functions: C++ supports anonymous functions, popularly called lambda expressions.

Java Programming Language

Java was created by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems, which Oracle has since bought. It is one of the most adaptable languages available today. Java has emerged as the most widely used language for developing software applications to address real-world issues, used by millions of developers and hundreds of software firms worldwide. Java is an object-oriented high-level programming language with the least amount of implementation dependencies. The Write Once Read Anywhere (WORA) feature is supported by Java. In other words, compiled Java code doesn't need to be recompiled to operate on any platform that supports Java.

Additionally, Java includes a wide range of capabilities that improve a developer's capacity to create scalable programs. Application development is facilitated by special classes like Applets, Servlets, JavaServer Pages, etc. Additionally, Java has various frameworks built on top of it, such as Spring, Dagger, and others, which facilitates developers' workflow.

Now that we know what CPP and Java are let's dive deep into the difference between the two languages. Let's look at C++ vs. Java in terms of various attributes.

Key Features of Java Language

Now let's look at some of Java's main characteristics:-

The Write Once Run Anywhere (WORA) capability, which Java enables, is among the most intriguing and significant features. Java Code can be run on any computing platform after it has been compiled. Consider the case when the Java code was created on a MAC. If the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) is installed, the same Java code can run without error on a Windows operating system under that situation.
The only object-oriented programming language is Java. Classes and objects are the only methods to write Java programming.
Java has automated memory management and is a multi-threaded language. It has great garbage collection features and is widely used for distributed computing due to its network orientation.
Java is dynamic and extensible.
Java is also secure and robust.

Comparison between C, C++, and Java

COMPARISON PARAMETER	C	C++	Java
Developed by	Dennis M. Ritchie created the C programming language in 1972.	Bjarne Stroustrup created C++ in 1979 at Bell Labs. It was created as a C language extension.	James Gosling created Java while working for Sun Microsystems. Oracle is now the owner of it.
Programming model	C is a procedural programming language	Both procedural and object-oriented programming are supported by it.	Java is an object-oriented programming language.
Type of language	As it connects the gaps between machine-level and high-level languages, C is a middle-level language.	C++ is a high-level language.	Due to the fact that Java code is converted into machine language via a compiler or interpreter, Java is a high-level language.
Compilation and Interpretation	C is not understood; it is just compiled.	C++ cannot be interpreted; it can only be compiled.	Java can be interpreted as well as compiled.
Memory Allocation	Functions like malloc(), calloc(), etc. can be used to allocate memory in C programs.	Using the 'new' keyword, memory allocation is accomplished in C++.	Java supports memory allocation through the usage of the "new" keyword.

Conclusion

As a result, we would like to point out that since many large software businesses employ C, C++, and Java, learning both can be highly beneficial. Because of Java's diversity and flexibility, it is preferable for aspiring programmers who want to work in the software business today or who already have a position in software engineering to learn more about it. C and C++, however, can undoubtedly prove to be better programming languages than Java for those looking to design firmware systems, game engines, etc. where high performance is required. This is because they are significantly faster than Java.