C Vs C++ : Complete Difference Tutorial For Beginners In 2025

Have you ever done C vs C++ programming languages? If yes, which one is better? C and C++ are among the powerful and popular programming languages worldwide. C++ is believed to be a successor of the C language with more advanced features and better optimization. C is known to be the mother of modern programming languages.

C is a simple procedural programming language, and C++ is built on the C programming language with extra features, such as object-oriented programming. Here, let us discuss more C Vs C++ and then decide which one is better.

Table of Contents

What is the C Programming Language?

C is a structural programming language that was developed in 1972 by Dennis Ritchie at Bell Laboratories. C is considered the mother of all programming languages, which was initially used for the purpose to develop operating systems, such as Windows, macOS, Linux, and more.

C Programming language

C is a simple and fast programming language that is often taken as a foundation for other programming languages. Most students or anyone learning a programming language start with the C programming language. When they know the C programming language, switching to other programming languages seems easier.

What is C++ Programming Language?

C++ is the advanced version of the C programming language also considered superior to the C language. It is a general-purpose object-oriented programming language that is used to develop operating systems, gaming applications, smartwatches, cloud systems, compilers, and much more.

C++ Programming language

Today, you will see the C++ programming language used by top companies like Google, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, and more. This programming language is a popular and in-demand language due to its advanced features. C plus plus supports objects and classes along with the other features of the C programming language.

Difference Table Between C Vs C++ Programming Languages

C vs C++ Programming language

Let us check some major differences between C vs C++ programming languages in the table below.

C Programming Language	C++ Programming Language
The C programming language was developed in 1972 by Dennis Ritchie at Bell Laboratories.	The C++ language was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup at Bell Laboratories in the early 1980s
C does not support object-oriented programming	C++ is an object-oriented programming language supporting objects and classes in programs
It does not support OOPs methods like inheritance, polymorphism, encapsulation, and more.	It supports features like encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and more.
C is a subset of the C++ programming language.	C++ is considered a superset of the C programming language with advanced features.
The C programming language has relatively lesser numbers of of keywords	The C++ language has a comparatively higher number of keywords than the C programming language.
We use the .c file extension to save source files in the C language	We use the .cpp extension to store source files using the C++ language.
We use <stdio.h> for standard I/O operations with the C language	We use <iostream> for standard I/O operations with the C++ programming language.
It does not include any direct integration of exception handling.	It contains exception handling features.
It does not support function or operator overloading features	It supports both operator overloading as well as function overloading
It does not provide access modifiers i,e. Private, public, and protected.	It includes access modifiers, including private, public, and protected.

C vs C++: Features Comparison

Let us now conduct a C vs C++ comparison based on the features offered by both these popular programming languages below.

1. C vs C++: Features of C Programming Language

Let us check some of the major features of the mighty C programming language.

C is a structural programming language that follows a particular predefined set of rules to run the code.
C is also known as a procedural language, as it breaks down the problem statement or code into smaller modules to reduce the complexity of the program.
C allows dynamic memory allocations that are carried out during run time.
C is a go-to language for beginners and forms the foundation for other programming languages.
C provides a lot of built-in methods/functions or user-defined functions that help programmers to run and update code easily.
C is a faster programming language with faster execution speed compared to other programming languages.
C also offers portability, i.e., the ability of the C language to run on different hardware platforms and operating systems.

2. C vs C++: Features of C++ Programming Language

Let us check some of the major features of the C++ programming language.

C++ is an object-oriented programming language with support of properties like objects, classes, inheritance, polymorphism, encapsulation, abstraction, and more.
C++ is a compiler-based programming language where programs need to be compiled first before execution. This is the reason why C++ is faster than Java and Python programming.
The memory allocation in C++ is dynamic, which is during run time.
C++ is faster in execution with many built-in methods and libraries to support all round development.
C++ offers the Standard Template Library (STL) that consists of various predefined methods, such as Vector, List, maps, and more that can be used to increase the efficiency of programming and become more productive.

C vs C++: Use Case Comparison

Let us conduct a C vs C++ comparison based on the use case of both these programming languages below.

Applications of C Programming Language

C is used in writing operating systems and kernels, such as Windows, Linux, Unix, Linux kernels, Microsoft, and more.
The C programming language is used in embedded systems, especially for hardware-level programming or microcontrollers. For example, microwave, TV, remote-controlled devices, alarm clock, and more.
Popular Adobe software is built using the C programming language, such as Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere, and more
Popular web browsers, you know, like Mozilla and Chrome, are all based on and designed with the C programming language.
The earlier assembly code of UNIX operating systems was written using the C language in 1972.
The kernel of C Windows 1.0 was released in 1985 and was written in the C programming language.

Applications of C++ Programming Language

C++ is used by Google to create products like Google Chrome browsers and more.
Spotify also uses the C++ programming language to power up their audio streaming backends.
C++ also contributes toward building powerful operating systems like Windows, Mac, and Linux.
C++ is a popular choice for the database language SQL and NoSQL-based databases, i.e., MongoDB, which is written in the C++ language.
Remember Winamp? The popular Windows Media Player, which is also written in the C++ language.
Most of the VR, AR, 3D, and multiplayer game platforms are developed using the C++ language.

C Vs C++ Language: When to Use What?

It is important to be familiar with what programming language to be used in which condition to give favorable results.

When to Use C Language?

The C language can be used when you are dealing with basic concepts like variables, loops, and memory management in a simple manner, most probably for study purposes.
C must be preferred when you want to work under low level programming to get a deeper insight into performance used specifically for game development.
C program can be used in microcontrollers where byte count is more important due to very limited memory space.
The C language can be preferred when you are working with older models or software systems supporting or developed using the C language.
When any application prioritises speed and efficiency, using the C language can be more beneficial. For example, in real-time applications, robotics, etc.

When to Use C++ Language?

The C++ language can be considered when you are working on a large-scale project with heavy coding requirements.
When you want to organise your code in reusable components and libraries, you can prefer the C++ language.
You can use the C++ language to get more productivity and efficiency using extensive libraries i,e. STL, SFML.
C programming is widely used in desktop software applications like Autodesk, MS Office, Adobe Photoshop, and more.
It is also used in automotive, telecom, aerospace, and other industries where OOPs and low-level control are needed.
C++ also supports cross-platform development, where frameworks and tools support C++ across Windows, Linux, macOS, and more.

Also Read:

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C vs C++ Comparison FAQs

Q1. What is the C programming language?

Ans: C is a high level programming language used for mid level programming developed in the 1970s by Dennis M. Ritchie.

Q2. What is the C++ programming language?

Ans: C++ is a general-purpose, object-orientated programming language that is an advanced version of the C language used in application development, operating systems, game development, database systems, and more.

Q3. Is it better to learn C or C++?

Ans: C is a procedural low-level language used in tasks requiring higher precision and control, while C++ offers many advanced features including, OOPs and integration with multiple platforms. Hence, you can start learning the C language in starting and then slowly switch to C++ language.

Q4. Which is harder, C or C++?

Ans: C++ is an object oriented programming language, and C is a procedural language, simpler especially for beginners who want to begin with the basics of programming.