Differences between C and C++

C and C++ both are programming languages. Actually, C++ was based on C & retains a great no of functionality. Both of them have some similarities and differences. In this page, some of the differences between C and C++ are noted below:

C++ supports object oriented programming concepts. But C doesn't support OOP (Object Oriented Programming). C is actually a POP (Procedure Oriented Programming) language.

n C, to allocate memory space (both single elements and arrays) malloc(), calloc() function are used and you can also free the memory using free() fucction. For example:

int *a = malloc( sizeof(int) );
int *a_array = malloc( sizeof(int) * 20 );

free( a );
free( a_array );

But for C++ the situation is a bit different. For the allocation of memory use new[] operator and use delete[] to free the memory space. For example:

int *a = new int;
int *a_array = new int[20];

delete a;
delete[] a;

C is the predecessor of C++. A lot of C remains in C++. C++ allows programmer to program more easily then using C.

C++ can provide a native boolean type. But C does not provide a native boolean type. To simulate it, you have to use an enum, though:

typedef enum {FALSE, TRUE} bool;

C++ is high level language. Whereas C is a low level language.

Syntax supporting:

C++ support all the syntaxs of C. But C doesn't support all the syntax of C++

Function supporting:

C++ can support of all function of C language, but C can't support of all function of C++ language.

Most good C programs follow that the function should be declared before to use. You may also define other places also. But for C++, it's strictly enforced that all the functions must have to be declared before to use.

C++ has a much larger library than C. Moreover, some things may be automatically linked in by C++ when they are not with C. For instance, if you're used to using g++ for math-heavy computations, then it may come as a shock that when you are using gcc to compile C, you need to explicitly include the math library for things like sin or even sqrt:

% g++ foo.cc

In C++, if you don't mention return 0 at the end of main, it is provided automatically. For example:

int main()
{
    printf( "Hello, World" );
}

But in C, it must be added manually. Otherwise, the copiler shows an error during the compile time and running time. For example,

int main()
{
    printf( "Hello, World" );
    return 0;
}

C++ allows the programmer to create classes (Classes are similar to C structures). But C doesn't allow programmers to create classes.

Operator and function overloading is not supported by C. If a function has a name, then that function can't use in the program again. But using C++, that is possible. You can use the same function name with different arguments.

C can only recognizes first 32 char of string. But C++ doesn't pose this type of limitation.

C programming follows Top Down aproach and focuses on procedures. Whereas C++ is a bottom up approach and focuses on data (data hiding, abstaction).

Prototyping is an optional in for C programming. But it's a mandatory in C++ programming.

Using C, assigning a void pointer to a non-void pointer is possible. But C++ does not bearing such type of concepts.

     void *ptrx="vaibhav";
     char *ptry="Vai" ;
     ptry=ptrx                                 // only valid in C

All these are the differences between C and C++. If you want to include many other differences, please add it to the comment section.

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