Línguas da família C: o que são? Qual é a diferença?

C family languages: what are they? What is the difference?

Discover the power of languages ​​in the C family. From C to C++, C# and more, explore their versatility, performance and wide range of applications. Unlock the potential of C family languages ​​for your programming needs.

Imagem em destaque

Many developers and laypeople are familiar with the C and C++ coding languages. Even the relatively new C# – pronounced “C sharp” – has become a household name. C, the first of the so-called “C family” of programming languages, is one of the oldest languages, developed by Dennis Ritchie at Bell Laboratories in 1972 and released in 1978. C++ followed in the following decade, and C# did not. emerge until the 21st century.

Despite belonging to this family of languages ​​and some striking similarities, C, C++ and C# also have several important differences. What are these languages? How do they compare?

C languages

W

C is one of the oldest programming languages ​​still in use today and remains a popular tool for development. Originally created to build Unix, it continues to be a fundamental language for developing operating systems. The procedural language is simple, highly efficient, portable, flexible and easy to use.
It is used for many different projects, both complex and simple, including:

  • IoT Applications
  • Databases and browsers
  • Desktop and mobile apps
  • Operating systems and programs
  • Graphics
  • Games

Low-level, non-object-oriented programming language can be used in operating systems. It comes with a huge set of libraries, along with built-in operators. It's also important to note that one of C's strongest features is its security.

Objective-C

Objective-C is essentially a variation of C, which is why it doesn't exactly deserve its own title on this list. Developed about a decade after the original C, it adds syntax – Smalltalk-like messages – to make it an object-oriented language. This language is used for the iOS and macOS operating systems, along with the Cocoa and Cocoa Touch frameworks.

C++

C++ emerged as an extension of C. Initially, the goal was to add object-oriented features to the C language to make it more advanced while preserving speed and other beneficial qualities. Like C, C++ has become extraordinarily popular as a development tool.
Because C++ was created as an extension of C, it can run the vast majority of code created with it. Along with many of the same applications as C, it can be used in other instances, such as PC software development.
Now considered an intermediate-level programming language, C++ carries many of the characteristics and qualities of its parent language, especially its focus on efficiency. It is simple and platform independent, to name a few of its benefits. It also has additional qualities including polymorphism support.

W#

The newest member of the C family, C# is a modern, general-purpose language that carries over a number of the qualities of C and C++. Like C++, it is object-oriented. The modern, high-performance language runs on the Microsoft .NET framework and is not typically used outside of Windows platforms. The language is compiled into bytecode, making it efficient and quickly translated, in addition to having a simple syntax.
Other features and qualities of C# include garbage collection — also known as automatic memory management — linked checking, type safety, language interoperability, less error-prone syntax, and more.
C# development services are used for various purposes such as enterprise applications and web-based applications. It is also known as the main language for game development.

Which language is right for you?

So how do you decide which language is right for your project or team? C, C++ and C# offer a series of qualities, but they have marked differences. Each of them is also best suited for varying purposes, and the language you select depends on the unique goals of your project or organization.

Choose C if…

  • You are new to programming
  • You need broadly applicable language
  • Security is a priority for you

C is a foundational language for learning other languages ​​within and outside the C family. It's relatively simple and easy to learn, and will help you understand and program with other languages—including C++ and C#—once you've mastered the basics. It is also considered a highly secure language, so it can be ideal for projects that require security — which is probably the vast majority of them.

Choose C# if…

  • You are focusing on programming in a Windows environment
  • Your project is web-based
  • You want to learn and enjoy .NET
  • Are you interested in game development
  • You have good programming experience

C# arguably has less in common with its other C languages. Although it is not as widely used, it is gaining popularity and has diverse applications. It's a great option for experienced developers, although the syntax is very straightforward and easy to read and manage.

When it comes to development, there are many language options to use. C, C++ and C# offer different qualities.

(tagsToTranslate)c#

Source: BairesDev

Conteúdo relacionado

Back to blog

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.