In this section of the C++ Tutorial, let’s have a look at the difference between C & C++. Both C & C++ are widely used programming language, however, the major difference between C and C++ is that C does not support classes whereas C++ support it.
Let’s have a look at the difference between C and C++ based on some classification parameters.
Difference Between C & C++
| Parameters | C | C++ |
| Development | C was developed by Dennis Ritchie between the years 1969 and 1973 at AT&T Bell Labs. | C++ was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup in 1979. |
| Subset/superset | C is a subset of C++. | C++ is a superset of C. |
| Approach | C follows the top-down approach. | C++ follows the bottom-up approach. |
| Data security | Data is less secured in C. | In C++, you can use modifiers for class members to make it inaccessible for outside users. |
| Focus | Instead of focusing on data, C focuses on method or process. | C++ focuses on data instead of focusing on method or procedure. |
| Programming language type | C is a function-driven language because C is a procedural programming language. | C++ is an object driven language because it is object-oriented programming. |
| Functions | Functions in C are not defined inside structures. | Functions can be used inside a structure in C++. |
| Program division | C programs are divided into procedures and modules | C++ programs are divided into functions and classes. |
| Data and functions | Data and functions are separated in C because it is a procedural programming language. | Data and functions are encapsulated together in the form of an object in C++. |
| Header files | Header file used by C is stdio.h. | Header file used by C++ is iostream.h. |
| Keywords | C contains 32 keywords. | C++ contains 52 keywords. |
| Input/Output | In C, scanf() and printf() are mainly used for input/output. | C++ mainly uses stream cin and cout to perform input and output operations. |
| Memory allocation/deallocation | C provides malloc() and calloc() functions for dynamic memory allocation, and free() for memory de-allocation. | C++ provides new operator for memory allocation and delete operator for memory de-allocation. |
| Expection Handling | Exception handling is not easy in C. It has to perform using other functions. | C++ provides exception handling using Try and Catch block. |
| Function Overloading | Not supported | Supported |
| Functions in structure | Not supported | Supported |
| Reference variables. | Not supported | Supported |
| Operator overloading | Not supported | Supported |
| Namespace | Not supported | Supported |
| Polymorphism, Encapsulation, and Inheritance | Not supported | Supported |
| Function and operator overloading | Not supported | Supported |
| Virtual and friend functions | Not supported | Supported |