C# vs. C++: Explanation of the characteristics and technical differences between C# and C++
Despite their similar names, C# and C++ are completely different languages. Although there is a slight technical connection between the two languages, they have different areas of expertise.
If you are thinking of learning one of the languages in the future, you should consider your area of expertise, the industry you want to pursue, and your career path. Here, I will explain the linguistic characteristics of C# and C++, their differences, and who is suited to learn them.
If you want to learn more about C#, check out this page for C# tutorials.
1. What are the characteristics of C# and C++?
First, I will explain the origins and characteristics of C# and C++.
What is C#?
C# is a language developed by Microsoft and released in 2000. Often misunderstood as a derivative of C, it is a language based on C++ and Java. NET Framework, C# incorporates the strengths of several programming languages, and its basic syntax is similar to that of C.
Characteristics of C#
Although C#'s syntax and grammar are very similar to C and C++, they are not interchangeable. Simply put, garbage collection is a dynamic memory management function. It automatically releases unneeded areas of memory allocated by the program, preventing memory leaks during coding and facilitating resource management.
C# can also be used as a compiler and interpreter language. This is because it can be pre-compiled, JIT-compiled using MSIL (an intermediate language developed by Microsoft), and converted to a pseudo-scripting language with a built-in interpreter.
What is C++?
C++ was created around 1979 and is said to be an object-oriented version of the C programming language. In other words, it is an object-oriented version of C.
Characteristics of C++
The greatest advantage of C++ is its execution speed, which is comparable to that of C, but with less coding and smaller data.
Like C, C++ is a machine language, making it suitable for development with strong hardware ties (e.g., operating systems and industrial machinery).
Its main features include multiple inheritances, templates, functions, operator overloading, and exception handling, making it not much more comparable to the latest languages. It also has a certain degree of compatibility with C, and a language written in C can be compiled in C++. (However, the reverse is not possible.) This language is used in fields where scale and speed are important such as application development, large-scale business systems, and data analysis.
C ++, which is such a high-performance and versatile language, is also known for its high learning difficulty. In particular, understanding pointers and object orientation derived from C tends to be a hurdle.
There are several versions of C++, each with different useful features. Therefore, it is recommended to learn the latest or semi-latest version.
2. Relationship between C# and C++
Next, I will the relationship between C# and C++.
Why are the names so similar, and what is the relationship between the two languages?
Because of their similar names, C# and C++ are often seen as derivative or sibling languages. Indeed, they may be siblings in the sense that both were derived from the C language. However, they are completely different languages and have little to do with each other.
As mentioned above, C++ is an extended version of C. It incorporates object-oriented elements into C, making it a more highly functional and versatile language. C#, on the other hand, is a language that combines the functionality of C++ and java. Therefore, we could say that they are more distantly related than siblings.
However, it is possible to link the two languages by using certain tricks, such as "calling C++ functions from C#" or "passing arrays from C# to C++ (DLL).
3. Differences between C# and C++
Now, let's sort out the differences between C# and C++, which are distantly related: the two languages differ in terms of areas of application, technical perspectives, and so on.
Differences in the fields of application
C# is mainly used in the game development field, such as Unity, and the development of Windows applications running on the DOT NET. Furthermore, ASP.NET enables the development of web applications.
Recently, it has been used to develop applications for smartphones and virtual reality content such as AR and VR.
C++, on the other hand, is used for relatively large-scale business system development, IoT software development, and systems where speed is important such as data analysis and statistics. As mentioned above, its proximity to machine language and its ability to directly manipulate hardware seems to lead to faster execution speeds.
In addition, the know-how accumulated in C ++ is very attractive for developing business systems where reliability is critical, and the ability to leverage the know-how from the C language era makes it suitable for developing systems with stability and speed are required.
4. Summary
C# and C++ are not closely related programming languages despite their similar names. C++, on the other hand, is often used for relatively large-scale development involving business systems. If you are considering learning a language, first research the characteristics of each language, the degree of difficulty in learning it, and the areas in which it is used before proceeding to actual learning.