C vs C++: What's the Difference?

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C++ is a high-level programming language that was developed as an extension of the C language. While C and C++ share many similarities, there are some key differences that set them apart.

Syntax

C and C++ have similar syntax, but C++ has a few additional features such as object-oriented programming concepts and templates. Here is an example of a basic "Hello, World!" program in C and C++:

C Syntax

#include<stdio.h>

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

C++ Syntax

#include<iostream>

int main()
{
    std::cout << "Hello, World!";
    return 0;
}

Example

Let's take a closer look at the example program above.

C Example Output

Hello, World!

C++ Example Output

Hello, World!

Explanation

In both the C and C++ programs, we are using the main() function to execute our program. The printf() function in C and the std::cout object in C++ are being used to output the string "Hello, World!" to the console.

In C++, we are using the std namespace to specify that we want to use the cout object from the iostream library.

Use

While C can be used for low-level programming, such as operating system development, C++ is used for a wider range of programming tasks. C++ is often used for developing desktop applications, games, and even web applications.

Important Points

• C is a procedural programming language, while C++ supports both procedural and object-oriented programming.
• C++ has features such as templates and exceptions that C doesn't have.
• C++ has a larger standard library compared to C.
• C and C++ have similar syntax.

Summary

C++ is an extension of the C language and adds several features such as object-oriented programming concepts and templates. While C and C++ share many similarities, C++ is used for a wider range of programming tasks.