What is the Difference Between C and C#?

🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚

C and C# are both powerful programming languages, but they have significant differences in terms of structure, syntax, performance, and memory management. Some of the key differences between C and C# include:

  1. Programming Paradigm: C language supports procedural programming, while C# supports object-oriented programming.
  2. Syntax: In C, variables are declared with the data type preceding the variable name, while in C#, variables are declared with the var keyword followed by the variable name.
  3. Memory Management: C requires developers to manage memory manually, while C# has automatic memory management and garbage collection.
  4. Exception Handling: C# has built-in exception handling, while C does not.
  5. Performance: C language offers top-notch performance, while C# offers standard performance.
  6. Platform Support: C language can be executed cross-platform, while C# requires the .NET Framework to execute.

In summary, C is a low-level language that gives developers direct control over memory management and memory resources, while C# is a higher-level language with object-oriented features and automatic memory management and garbage collection. C is more suitable for systems programming and offers better performance, while C# is a general-purpose language with a focus on object-oriented programming and is often used in enterprise applications.

Comparative Table: C vs C#

Here is a table highlighting the differences between C and C#:

Feature C C#
Language Type Procedural Object-Oriented
Memory Management Unmanaged Managed by the .NET CLR
Cross-Platform Support Yes No, mostly limited to Windows and .NET
Object-Oriented Programming No Yes, with support for polymorphism, encapsulation, and inheritance
Switch Statements Test variable cannot be a string Test variable can be a string
Complexity Simpler, but less versatile More complex, but versatile

C is a procedural language with unmanaged memory, while C# is an object-oriented language managed by the .NET CLR. C can be executed in cross-platform environments, whereas C# is primarily limited to Windows and .NET frameworks. C# supports object-oriented programming concepts like polymorphism, encapsulation, and inheritance, which are not present in C. Additionally, C# allows switch statements with string test variables, unlike C.