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

C and C++ are two programming languages that are widely used in software development. While they share many similarities, there are key differences that set them apart:

  • Paradigm: C is a procedural programming language, while C++ supports both procedural and object-oriented programming paradigms, enabling encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism.
  • Data Abstraction: C++ allows for the creation of classes and objects, facilitating data abstraction and code reuse. C, on the other hand, primarily uses structures for data grouping.
  • Standard Libraries: C++ has a rich set of standard library functions, including the Standard Template Library (STL), which provides powerful data structures and algorithms. C has a more limited standard library.
  • Namespace: C++ supports namespaces to avoid name collisions in large programs. C does not have this feature, which can lead to naming conflicts.
  • Memory Management: C++ provides constructors and destructors that help manage memory automatically, whereas C requires manual management using functions like malloc and free.

These differences make C++ more suitable for larger, complex systems and applications requiring substantial functionality.

// Example demonstrating classes in C++ class Animal { public: void speak() { std::cout << "Animal speaks" << std::endl; } }; class Dog : public Animal { public: void speak() { std::cout << "Dog barks" << std::endl; } }; int main() { Dog dog; dog.speak(); // Outputs: Dog barks return 0; }

C C++ programming languages object-oriented procedural data abstraction

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