What to choose: C vs C++?

What to choose: C vs C++?

C vs. C++ is a popular developer blog topic. C and C++ are programming languages that can be used to create games, GUI applications, operating systems, databases, etc. C is regarded as the "God" of programming languages, whereas C++ is an extended version of C. They have given so much to the programmers that it will be difficult to choose one over the other!

In today’s post, I'd like to compare two different languages and try to pick one (spoiler alert: this will be a tough task).

What is C?

C is a machine-independent structural or procedural oriented programming language that is widely used in a variety of applications. Dennis Ritchie, a great computer scientist, created the C language at Bell Laboratories.

C is a fundamental programming language that can be used to create everything from operating systems (such as Windows) to complex programs such as the Oracle database, Git, Python interpreter, and many more. Because it serves as the foundation for other programming languages, the C programming language has been dubbed "God's programming language." We can easily learn other programming languages if we know the C language.

What is C++?

C++ is a general-purpose, object-oriented programming language that was also known as "C with Classes." In 1979, Bjarne Stroustrup created this language. Because it supports both procedural and object-oriented programming languages, it is a multi-paradigm programming language. C++ has the properties of the C programming language, as well as classes and objects for user-defined data types. C++ is used in graphics applications, operating systems, smartwatches, game development, cloud-distributed systems, compilers, and other similar applications.

C++ is now used by top tech companies such as Google, Meta, Amazon, and many others. It is now not only an extension of the C programming language, but it has also become a popular and in-demand programming language due to its modern update and high performance.

In what aspects are these languages similar?

1. Syntax;
2. Code structure;
3. Almost all of C's operators and keywords are present in C++ and perform the same function;
4. Both models' basic memory models are very close to the hardware;
5. Both languages have the same notions of stack, heap, file-scope, and static variables;
6. They both have the same compilation;
7. Most C operators and keywords are present in C++ as well.

What are the key differences between C and C++?

1. Programming paradigms (C is a structural or procedural programming language; C++ is a structural as well as an object-oriented programming language);
2. Subset (C++ is a superset of the C programming language; C++ can run 99% of C code, but C cannot run C++ code);
3. Data types (C supports built-in data types; C++ supports both built-in and user-defined data types);
4. Language type (C is a function-driven language; C++ is an object-driven language);
5. Keywords (C contains 32 keywords; C++ supports 52 keywords);
6. Security (C does not have any security features, so it can be manipulated by outsiders; C++ is a secure language as it offers security features such as data hiding and encapsulation);
7. Headers (the C standard IO header is stdio.h; for C++, it is iostream.h);
8. Compatibility (Code written in C can be run on a C++ compiler because C is the foundational language; code written in C++ can be run on a C compiler because C++ includes the concept of OOP);
9. Approach (for C, a top-down approach; for C++, a bottom-up approach);
10. Reference variable (the C language doesn’t support RV; C++ supports RV);
11. Inheritance (the C language doesn’t support inheritance; C++ supports inheritance);
12. Overloading (the C language doesn’t support overloading; C++ supports overloading);
13. Input and Output Function (In C, the scanf() and printf() functions are used to take the input and output, respectively; in C++, the cin and cout functions are used to take the input and output, respectively);
14. Meta-programming (macros + _Generic() for C; templates (macros are still supported but discouraged) for C++).

Which approach is better? 

When using different programming languages such as C and C++, neither approach is superior. It all comes down to personal preference. Both can be used by skilled programmers to create a fully functional program. However, bottom-up is usually preferable for groups and top-down for individuals. Bottom-up tends to be messier than top-down, which is more organized by default. From that point of view, I believe that C is more preferable to learn.

One more argument to learn C is that C++ is based on this language, so all fundamental rules and principles are alike for both of these languages. One of the options is to study C in the first place and then learn C++. In that case, you will have the ability to dive into each language and, depending on the project you are working on, make your choice.

To be honest, I don’t think that it is a truly good question—what language to choose among C and C++. It is obvious that these two programming languages have some similarities, but in most cases they serve different purposes and are used in different projects. Which language to choose is totally up to the developer who is going to work with it.

For me, C++ is more preferable, due to the fact that it has more features and more applications, which allow me to explore various roles. Learning C++ is also easier, especially if you are familiar with object-oriented programming. Knowledge of object-oriented programming will take you a long way to mastering C++. Of course, this experience is not required. 

Which language do you prefer, C or C++? Share your experience in the comments!