difference between c(++) and Java
Table of Contents
- 1. Paradigm:
- C++: Supports both procedural and object-oriented programming paradigms. It provides features like classes, inheritance, polymorphism, and templates.
- Java: Primarily follows the object-oriented programming paradigm. It emphasizes simplicity, portability, and robustness.
- 2. Memory Management:
- C++: Requires manual memory management using new and delete keywords for dynamic memory allocation and deallocation. Can also use smart pointers for automated memory management.
- Java: Utilizes automatic memory management through garbage collection. Objects that are no longer referenced are automatically deallocated by the garbage collector.
- 3. Platform Independence:
- C++: Platform-dependent due to compilation to native machine code. Requires recompilation for different platforms.
- Java: Platform-independent due to compilation to bytecode, which is executed by the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). Allows “write once, run anywhere” (WORA) capability.
- 4. Exception Handling:
- C++: Uses try, catch, and throw keywords for exception handling. Exceptions are not checked at compile time.
- Java: Provides robust exception handling using try, catch, finally, and throw keywords. Supports checked exceptions, which are checked at compile time.
- 5. Multiple Inheritance:
- C++: Supports multiple inheritance, allowing a class to inherit from multiple base classes. It uses virtual inheritance to handle issues like the diamond problem.
- Java: Does not support multiple inheritance of classes. It supports multiple inheritance of interfaces, allowing a class to implement multiple interfaces.
- 6. Pointers:
- C++: Supports pointers and allows direct manipulation of memory addresses. Pointer arithmetic is possible.
- Java: Does not support pointers or direct memory manipulation. References to objects are managed by the JVM, and developers do not have direct access to memory addresses.
- 7. Standard Libraries:
- C++: Standard Template Library (STL) provides a rich set of data structures and algorithms. Additional libraries like Boost offer extended functionality.
- Java: Java Standard Edition (Java SE) provides a comprehensive set of libraries for various tasks, including I/O, networking, collections, and concurrency.
- 8. Operator Overloading:
- C++: Allows operator overloading, enabling operators to be redefined for user-defined types.
- Java: Does not support operator overloading, except for string concatenation (+ operator) and the += operator for string appending.
- 9. Header Files:
- C++: Uses header files (*.h) for declarations and function prototypes, which are included in source files using #include directives.
- Java: Does not use header files. Classes and interfaces are defined in separate files, and dependencies are managed using import statements.
- 10. Compilation:
- C++: Compiled directly to native machine code by the compiler.
- Java: Compiled to bytecode by the Java compiler, which is executed by the JVM. Requires the JVM to be installed on the target system for execution.
Understanding these differences helps developers choose the appropriate language for their specific requirements and preferences.