C Vs. C++ Vs. Python Vs. Java

23 Jun 2025 | 7 min read

Programs have become an inseparable part of our daily lives. Everything is now digitised and connected through the Internet of Things. C, C++, Java, and Python remain at the top of the charts for popular programming languages among most programmers. Due to its features of both low and high-level languages, C is classified as a middle-level language.

C++ has risen in prominence as a fast and notably compiled language for programming, often being the first language that a novice programmer learns. Java is widely used for its platform independence, and many desktop applications are written in this language. Python is an interpreted programming language that is also contemporary and rapid in syntax. Each of these languages plays a crucial role in specific domains such as system programming, web development, AI/ML, and mobile app development.

C Programming Language

The C programming language comprises statements, functions, and variables. To begin, C is a procedural programming language that supports pointers. C is a middle-level language that combines low-level memory access with high-level programming structures.

On the other hand, the C programming language comprises statements, functions, and variables. The C programming language is easily expandable, making it flexible for adding new functionalities. To begin, C is a procedural language of programming language that supports pointers. C is a programming language consisting of statements, functions, and variables. C is an adaptable programming language that can quickly take on new features.

To read more C Tutorial

What is C's Potential?

  • The C programming language is quick and efficient.
  • It has 32 keywords and supports the procedural programming language.
  • The type of language has built-in operators that make building complicated programs easier.
  • It is widely used in embedded systems, firmware, and operating system kernels.

C++ Programming Language

C++ is an object-oriented coding language that recognizes classes as well as objects. It's a versatile programming language for a wide range of applications. It can create operating systems, browsers, and games, among other things. It provides several programming approaches such as procedural, functional, object-oriented, etc. As a result, C++ is both strong and adaptable. C++ is an ancient yet valuable language. It is widely utilized in developing highly professional gaming software and high-performance applications.

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What can C++ do for us?

While not traditionally used in machine learning, C++ is critical for performance-intensive ML frameworks such as TensorFlow (backend). It offers programmers a lot of power over the computer's memory and resources. Today's graphical user interfaces and integrated devices all employ this language. It is similar to C# and Java, and it makes it simple for programmers to convert from C# to C++ and vice versa.

  • It allows for the overloading of functions.
  • C++ is built from the ground up.
  • It has a total of 93 keywords (up to C++23 specification)
  • Channels cin and cout are also commonly used in C++ to conduct input and output actions.
  • C++ supports the new memory allocation operator.

Use-Cases of C++

Because it allows for hardware access and facilitates object-oriented programming, C++ is a popular choice among programmers. Numerous sophisticated end-user apps can be created with C++:

  1. Applications that are GUI-based: Adobe Photoshop. C++ is used in the development of Illustrator and WinAmp Media Player.
  2. Operating Systems: C++ is used in various portions of Apple OS. C++ is also used in the development of the majority of Microsoft software, including Internet Explorer and the Visual Studio IDE.
  3. Browsers: C++ is frequently used in browsers for rendering because of its quicker execution speed. Examples of cloud/distributed systems include the Google File.
  4. System, the Chrome browser, and Mozilla Thunderbird: Because it is near to hardware and supports multithreading, C++ is a strong choice for implementing cloud systems. C++ is also used in 3D engines like Unreal Engine and real-time simulation software.

Python Programming Language

Python is a powerful programming language with dynamically binding various operations and dynamic typing capabilities. Budding programmers commonly use Python because of its simple syntax, organized packages, and plug-ins. Also, Python's code readability is aided by extensive whitespace in its design philosophy. Its object-oriented approach promises to assist programmers in writing logical, unambiguous code for both large and small applications.

To read more Python Tutorial

Python Features

  • The ability to connect to a database system.
  • Python is used to develop server-side web applications.
  • It can do difficult math and be used for quick prototyping.
  • It is a high-level language with GUI programming capability.

Use-Cases of Python

The process of scraping a vast amount of data from the internet is known as web scraping. These kinds of data are helpful to businesses and are often used in marketing lead creation. Python web scraping apps are built using Python's Selenium, PythonRequest, and Mechanical Soup.
Python is widely used for complex data tasks, such as data extraction, data mining, and data visualization, thanks to its many robust libraries, such as scikit-learn and TensorFlow.
The majority of e-commerce websites now use Python-based machine learning and artificial intelligence to increase search capabilities and user experience.

Java Programming Language

Java is a widely used programming language that was first released in 1995. It is safe, object-oriented, and secure. Oracle owns it, and Java is used on over 3 billion devices. It's used to create the safest programs, including web applications (using the Spring Boot framework), desktop and mobile apps, massive data processing, embedded systems, etc. There is no need to delete unreferenced objects, as Java has a feature named Automatic Garbage Collection.

To read more Java Tutorial

What is Java's Potential?

  • APIs are provided for practically every job.
  • Encapsulation, abstraction, and inheritance are all supported in Java.
  • Compared to other programming languages, it has a powerful exception handling system and a type-checking system.
  • Java has a straightforward syntax.
  • Platform independence is achieved through the Java Virtual Machine (JVM).

Use-Cases of Java

  1. Mobile App Development: Java is used in the majority of Android applications; in fact, the most widely used Android app development IDE, "Android Studio," also employs Java to create Android apps.
  2. Web-Based Applications: Java has extensive support for web development through the use of JSP, Struts, and Servlets.
  3. Large Data Technology: Java is used to create the Hadoop HDFS platform, which is used to process and store large data applications. Additionally, Apache Camel and Apache Kafka employ Java. Java is widely utilized in game creation since it supports an open-source 3D engine. Java is used in the development of many well-known video games, such as Mission: Impossible III and Minecraft.

Differences Between C, C++, Python and Java

CC++JAVAPYTHON
Compiled LanguageCompiled Programming languageCompiled Programming LanguageInterpreted Programming Language
Operator overloading is not supported.Supports Overloading the operatorOverloading of the operator is not supported.Overloading of the operator is supported.
Multiple inheritance is not supported in C.Allow for both single as well as multiple inheritance options.Java provides partial multiple inheritanceProvides both single and multiple inheritance.
Platform-specificPlatform dependentPlatform-unaffectedPlatform independent
Threads are supported.Threads are supported viain C++11+Multithreading capability is built in.Multithreading is supported.
A small number of libraries are available.Has a small number of library patronsMany concepts, such as UI, are supported by the library.It comes with a large library set that allows it to be used for AI, data science, and other applications.
Outside of the class, variables and functions are utilized.Outside of the class, variables and functions are utilized.Every line of code is contained within a class.Functions and variables can be declared global.
Have a similar speed to C++C++ is a computer language that compiles quickly.The Java Program Compiler is a little slower than the C++ Compiler.Execution is delayed due to the employment of an interpreter.
Syntax rules are strictly followed.Syntax rules are strictly followed.Syntax rules are strictly followed.Semicolon optional; indentation defines code blocks.

Which Language Should You Learn?

GoalRecommended Language
Learn low-level memory concepts.C
Build high-performance games or applications.C++
Develop cross-platform apps, enterprise solutions, and Android apps.Java
Enter data science, AI, web development, or automation.Python

Note: If you are a beginner, Python is the most forgiving and readable. For deep system-level understanding, start with C or C++. If you are aiming for mobile or enterprise development, Java is a solid choice.

C, C++, Python and Java MCQs

1. In which language is Python written?

  1. English
  2. PHP
  3. C
  4. All of the above

Answer: c)

Explanation: Python is written in the C programming language, and it is also called CPython.


2. C is a ________ language.

  1. Low Level
  2. Middle Level
  3. High Level
  4. None of the above

Answer: b)

Explanation: C, C++, Java, and Python remain at the top of the charts for popular programming languages among most programmers. Due to its features of both low and high-level languages, C is classified as a middle-level language.


3. With respect to Java, select the correct one.

  1. Java is a high-level, general-purpose, object-oriented programming language.
  2. Java is a low-level, general-purpose, object-oriented programming language.
  3. Java is a high-level, general-purpose, object-based programming language.
  4. Java is a high-level, general-purpose, native programming language.

Answer: a)

Explanation: Java is a high-level, general-purpose, object-oriented programming language.

  • High-Level- A programming language that is designed to make it easier for humans to understand and write.
  • General Purpose- A "general-purpose programming language" can be used for a wide variety of applications across different domains.
  • Object Oriented- Object-oriented programming is a paradigm that treats everything as an object. It supports encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and abstraction.

4. Which of the following statements is correct regarding the object-oriented programming concept in Python?

  1. Classes are real-world entities, while objects are not real.
  2. Objects are real-world entities, while classes are not real-world entities
  3. Both objects and classes are real-world entities
  4. All of the above

Answer: b)

Explanation: Objects are real-world entities, while classes are not real-world entities.


5. The total number of keywords in C++ is _______ .

  1. 62
  2. 85
  3. 93
  4. 63

Answer: c)

Explanation: The total number of keywords in C++ is 93 up to the C++ 23 specification