Difference between Java and C language

Both Java and C are among the most popular programming languages in the world. Java is an object-oriented, platform-independent language, while C is a procedural, platform-dependent language. Despite their differences, both have been widely influential in shaping modern software development.

Key Differences

Feature Java C
Developed By James Gosling (1995) Dennis M. Ritchie (1969–1973)
Paradigm Object-Oriented (high-level) Procedural (middle-level)
Compilation Source → bytecode → JVM interprets/JIT compiles Source → machine code (compiled directly)
Functional Unit Objects and classes Functions
Inheritance Supported Not supported
Threading Built-in multithreading support No native threading (requires OS libraries)
Platform Platform-independent ("Write Once, Run Anywhere") Platform-dependent (recompile for each OS)
Memory Management Automatic (garbage collector) Manual (malloc/free)
Pointers No direct pointer manipulation Full pointer support

Example: Hello World in Both Languages

Java

public class HelloWorld {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println("Hello from Java!");
    }
}

The output of the above code is ?

Hello from Java!

C

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    printf("Hello from C!\n");
    return 0;
}

The output of the above code is ?

Hello from C!

Java requires a class wrapper and uses System.out.println(), while C uses the simpler printf() function directly. This reflects Java's object-oriented nature versus C's procedural approach.

Conclusion

Java is an object-oriented, platform-independent language with automatic memory management, making it ideal for enterprise and cross-platform applications. C is a procedural, platform-dependent language with direct hardware access and manual memory control, making it ideal for system programming, embedded systems, and performance-critical applications.

Updated on: 2026-03-14T12:18:07+05:30

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