C++ vs Java: Difference Between C++ and Java

Introduction to C++ language

C++ is an object-oriented, general-purpose programming language developed by Bjarne Stroustrup at AT&T Bell Laboratories in 1979. It is built on C language with an object-oriented extension.

That is, C++ is a superset of C with additional features, such as classes, objects, inheritance, encapsulation, polymorphism, and type checking to support object-oriented programming. C++ also supports procedural programming, generic programming, and functional programming.

C++ language encapsulates both high and low-level language features. Hence, it is perceived as a middle-level language. This language is platform-independent at the source level, but the compiled machine code is platform-specific.

C++ language is mainly used for system programming, game development, embedded systems, and high-performance applications. It supports many features like virtual functions, templates, goto statements, multiple inheritance, operator overloading, pointers, structures, unions, etc.

C++ uses only a compiler to compile source code into machine code, which is then executed directly by the computer without requiring an interpreter.

Introduction to Java language

Java is a high-level, object-oriented, class-based, and general-purpose programming language developed by Sun Microsystems in 1991. It was originally named OAK and was developed by James Gosling in 1991. It was later renamed Java and officially released in 1995.

Java was initially designed for embedded systems but is now widely used for developing web applications, enterprise software, mobile applications, and cloud-based systems.

The most striking feature of Java language is that it is a platform-independent language. Java does not support certain features of C++ like goto statement, pointers, operator overloading, etc. Java uses both a compiler and the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), which includes an interpreter and Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler, to compile and execute programs.

Hope that you will have understood the basic introduction of Java and C++. Now, we will understand the key similarities and differences between Java and C++.

Similarities between C++ vs Java

There are many similarities between C++ and Java that are as follows:

• Both C++ and Java are Object-Oriented Programming languages. Object-oriented programming language is that language that supports features like encapsulation, inheritance, abstraction, and polymorphism.
• Both languages are case-sensitive.
• Both have very similar syntax.
• Many keywords are the same in Java and C++ such as while, for, if-else, switch, break, case, try-catch, throw, continue, public, private, etc.
• Both C++ and Java support method overloading.
• Both have the same arithmetic and relational operators.
  • Arithmetic operators such as +, -, *, /
  • Relational operators such as >, <, =, != (not equal to)
• Execution of both C++ and Java programs begins from the “main” entry point. An entry point is a starting point where the program starts for execution. However, their declarations are different.
• Primitive data types like int, float, char, double are similar in both Java and C++. But one difference is that Boolean data type is called boolean in Java but it is called bool in C++.
• Both languages support multi-threading to achieve multitasking.

Key Difference between C++ and Java

C++ and Java are syntactically similar. Apart from this similarity, there are also many differences between C++ and Java programming languages. The list of high-level key difference between C++ and Java are:

1. Platform Independence

• C++ is platform-dependent because it compiles into native machine code specific to an operating system.
• Java is platform-independent because its source code compiles into bytecode that runs on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM).

2. Uses

• C++ is mainly used for system programming, game development, embedded systems, and high-performance applications.
• Java is mainly used for application programming, such as Windows, web-based, enterprise, and mobile applications.

3. Compiler and Execution

• C++ only supports a compiler to convert source code into native machine code. Therefore, it is known as compiled language. C++ compiler converts source code into machine code that makes C++ platform dependent.
• Java supports both compiler and Java Virtual Machine (JVM). First, the Java compiler converts source code into bytecode during compilation time. At runtime, the JVM executes this bytecode using an interpreter and Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler. Since bytecode can run on any system with JVM, so we can say that Java is both compiled and interpreted language that makes it platform-independent.

4. Hardware

• C++ is nearer to particular hardware or operating system.
• Java is not so tied with any particular hardware or operating system.

5. Memory Management

• Memory management in C++ is accessible to programmers.
• In Java, memory management is not accessible to programmers. Java provides automatic memory management using garbage collection.

6. Goto Statement

• C++ supports the goto statement. However, it is not recommended to use a goto statement.
• Java does not support the goto statement.

7. Multiple Inheritance

• C++ supports multiple inheritance through classes. The keyword virtual is used to fix problems during multiple inheritance.
• Java doesn’t support multiple inheritance through classes. It can be implemented in Java by using a new feature “interface”.

8. Operator Overloading

• C++ supports the concept of operator overloading.
• There is no concept of operator overloading in Java.

9. Pointers

• C++ supports the feature of pointers. We can write pointer programs in C++.
• Java supports pointer internally with limitations. Although, we can’t write the pointer program in Java.

10. Call by Value and Call by Reference

• C++ supports both call by value and call by reference.
• Java supports call by value only, not call by reference.

11. Structure and Union

• C++ supports the concepts of structures and unions.
• There are no concepts of structures and unions in Java.

12. Garbage Collection

• Java supports automatic garbage collection.
• But there is no garbage collection in C++.

13. Thread Support

• C++ has no built-in support for threads. It mainly depends on third-party libraries for thread support.
• Java has built-in thread support by a class “thread”. To implement it, we will need to inherit the thread class and then override the run method.

14. Global Variables

• C++ has the support of global variables.
• Global variables are not supported by Java.

15. Template Classes

• Java does not have template classes as in C++.

16. Documentation Comments

• C++ does not support documentation comments.
• Java supports documentation comment (/** … */) to write documentation for java source code.

17. Virtual Keywords

• C++ supports virtual keyword with a function so that we can determine whether or not override a function in the derived class.
  This way we can implement polymorphism.
• Java does not support virtual keyword. We can override all instance methods by default. In other words, instance methods are virtual by default.

18. Unsigned Right Shift >>>

• C++ doesn’t support unsigned right shift >>> operator.
• Java supports unsigned right shift >>> operator that places zero at the top for the negative numbers. For positive numbers, it serves same like >> operator.

19. Inheritance Tree

• C++ always creates a new inheritance tree.
• Java always uses a single inheritance tree because all classes are derived from Object class in java.

20. Root Hierarchy

• There is no root hierarchy in C++. C++ supports both procedural and object-oriented programming languages. Therefore, it is said to be hybrid language.
• Java is an object-oriented programming language. That’s why it always follows single root hierarchy (Object class).

21. Scope Resolution Operator

• In C++ language, we can use scope resolution operator (::) to define a function outside of a class. We can also access a global variable inside its scope where a local variable also exists with the same name.
• There is no scope resolution operator (::) in Java.

22. Runtime Error Detection

• The programmer has the responsibility to check the runtime errors in C++.
• In Java, it is the system’s responsibility to check errors in the program.

Main Key Difference between C++ vs Java

The main key differences between C++ and Java are:

• C++ uses only a compiler whereas Java uses both compiler and JVM interpreter.
• C++ supports both operator overloading and method overloading whereas Java only supports method overloading, not operator overloading.
• C++ has manual object management with the help of new and delete keywords while Java has automatic built-in garbage collection.
• C++ supports structures and unions whereas Java doesn’t support structures and unions.
• C++ supports pointers while Java doesn’t support pointers.

As you learned about similarities and dissimilarities between C++ and Java. We explained almost all the important differences between C++ and Java in simple words. Now let us take some frequently asked questions that beginners always search on Google.

Frequently Asked Questions Concerning C++ vs Java

Q1) Which one is better C++ or Java?

Answer: Perhaps, it is difficult to say which is better. Both C++ and Java have their own features, merits, and demerits.

C++ is a highly evolved language and is mostly good for system programming with advanced features like templates and containers. In fact, C++ can do anything in systems development from enterprise to gaming. We cannot do it with Java.

Java is the most widely used to develop desktop applications, gaming, web servers, and client-side web applications. It is also known as a native language of the Android operating system that operates on Android phones and tablets.

It’s also easier to find a Java developer than a “harder” language such as C++. Thus, the choice between C++ vs Java totally depends on which kind of application we are developing.

So, before going to choose between better: C++ and Java, First, evaluate beforehand the pros and cons of both the languages and then decide which is the best programming language to develop your application should be.

Q2) Is C++ harder than Java?

Answer: If you learned the basics of C language then C++ will not be difficult for you because it is just an extension of C with some advanced features.

But Java is easier to perceive without knowing C++. Frankly speaking, learning of any programming language depends on your practice.

Q3) Can we learn Java without knowing C or C++?

Answer: Yes, surely! No need to learn C or C++ to learn Java. In fact, the syntax of Java is easier than C++ or C.

Q4) Is C++ similar to Java?

Answer: In some ways, Yes but in some ways, No because both C++ and Java are object-oriented programming languages. They can be used for application development. They have similar syntax.

But when we move on to other topics like memory management, inheritance, polymorphism, etc., C++ and Java are totally different. Similarly, when we come to primitive data types, object handling, pointers, etc. both languages are different.