How is C# different from C

Question

Sam Hobbs · Answer

It is a misconception that C is only low-level. C can be used to create any application that you can use C# to create. For example C can be used to create AI applications. The important difference is that, whereas it is possible to be object-oriented using C, the language was not designed to be object-oriented. Some libraries such as GUI libraries might make it diificult to use C with them due to C not being object-oriented. I think it is better to compare C# to C++ because C++ is designed to be object-oriented. An important differecnce between C# and both C and C++ is that C# gets compiled to a portable executable whereas for C and C++ portability often requires recompiling for each of the various environments (operating systems). Using WebAssembly it is possible to develop a website using C or C++. For Android, uising the Native Development Kit, it is possible to develop most of an application using C and use C++ to interface with Android. For iOS develoment, the original native language for iOS was Objective-C, a language like C that has object-oriented extensions. It is possible to use C for iOS develoment but not recommended. The C language has nothing for accessing hardware directly. It is certainly possible to access hardware directly using C (I first learned Windows programming when I wrote a printer device driver) but the language has nothing specific for that. Accessing hardware directly using C# (.Net) can be a problemn due to garbage collection. For C and C++ we must manage memory ourselves in terms of freeing up allocated memory. That might seem unreasonable for developers beginning to learn the language but I prefer it. It is something a developer learns along with many things.

Mahesh Chand · Answer

The C language has limitations and is primarily suited for low-level applications that run on a machine. It can't be used to create mobile, web, APIs, and other types of applications. However, C# is more modern and can be used to build all kinds of applications. As a matter of fact, C# is the most versatile language out there. Here is a detailed article on this topic: What Can C# Do For You

Sandhiya Priya · Answer

Here’s a clear comparison between C and C# 1. Language Type Feature C C# Type Procedural (structured) programming language Object-Oriented programming language Main Focus Functions, structure, and memory management Objects, classes, and managed code execution 2. Platform Dependency Feature C C# Platform Platform-dependent — compiled code runs only on the same OS Platform-independent (through .NET CLR) Execution Compiled directly to machine code Compiled to Intermediate Language (IL) and executed by the .NET Common Language Runtime (CLR) 3. Memory Management Feature C C# Memory Handling Manual (using malloc() , free() ) Automatic garbage collection Pointers Extensively used Restricted (only in unsafe context) 4. Programming Approach Feature C C# Paradigm Procedural (top-down) Object-Oriented (bottom-up) Concepts like Classes, Inheritance, Polymorphism ? Not available ? Fully supported 5. Syntax & Features Feature C C# Header files Uses header files like #include Uses using System; namespaces Functions Global functions Methods inside classes Exception Handling Error codes try , catch , finally blocks Libraries Standard C libraries Huge .NET Framework Class Library 6. Use Cases Feature C C# Used For System programming, OS kernels, embedded systems Web apps, desktop apps, game development (Unity), enterprise software Example Projects UNIX OS, device drivers ASP.NET web apps, Windows Forms, WPF, Unity games 7. Compilation Process C → Compiled by a C compiler (e.g., GCC) → Machine code C# → Compiled by the C# compiler (CSC) → Intermediate Language (IL) → Executed by CLR Summary Aspect C C# Level Low-level (close to hardware) High-level (abstracted) Complexity Requires manual handling Easier with built-in tools Ideal for System-level programming Application-level programming In simple terms: C gives you full control over the hardware — great for speed and systems. C# gives you safety, simplicity, and rich features — great for apps and enterprise solutions.

Himanshu Kumar · Answer

1. Programming Paradigm: * C: Primarily a procedural programming language. It focuses on functions and sequences of instructions to perform tasks. While you can achieve some object-like structures, it's not inherently object-oriented. * C#: A modern, object-oriented programming (OOP) language. It fully supports OOP principles like encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and abstraction, making it easier to design modular, reusable, and maintainable code. 2. Memory Management: * C: Requires manual memory management. Developers must explicitly allocate memory (using malloc(), calloc()) and deallocate it (using free()) to prevent memory leaks. This gives fine-grained control but also introduces the risk of errors. * C#: Uses automatic memory management through a garbage collector (part of the .NET Common Language Runtime - CLR). Developers don't typically need to worry about freeing memory, as the garbage collector automatically reclaims unused memory. This simplifies development but can sometimes lead to less predictable performance in very low-level, performance-critical scenarios. 3. Platform and Runtime: * C: Compiles directly into machine code that runs natively on the target operating system. This makes C highly portable in terms of running on different hardware, but requires recompilation for each platform. * C#: Compiles into Intermediate Language (IL), also known as Common Intermediate Language (CIL). This IL code is then executed by the .NET Common Language Runtime (CLR). The CLR provides services like garbage collection, exception handling, and security. C# is cross-platform thanks to .NET Core/.NET 5+, allowing applications to run on Windows, macOS, and Linux. 4. Pointers: * C: Extensively uses pointers for direct memory manipulation. This is a powerful feature for low-level programming but can also be a source of errors (e.g., null pointer dereferencing, memory corruption). * C#: Generally does not use explicit pointers in typical application development. It provides safer alternatives like references and arrays. Pointers are only allowed in "unsafe" code blocks, which are explicitly marked and used for specific high-performance or interoperability scenarios. 5. Richness of Features and Libraries: * C: Has a relatively smaller standard library and focuses on core language constructs. Developers often rely on external libraries for more complex functionalities. * C#: Benefits from the vast and comprehensive .NET Framework/.NET library, offering a rich set of pre-built classes and functionalities for various tasks, including GUI development (WPF, WinForms), web development (ASP.NET), database access (ADO.NET), and more. 6. Error Handling: * C: Primarily uses return codes and sometimes global error variables for error handling. * C#: Employs a robust exception handling mechanism (try-catch-finally blocks), which provides a structured way to manage and recover from errors. 7. Target Applications: * C: Ideal for system programming, embedded systems, operating systems, device drivers, and applications where raw performance and direct hardware access are paramount. * C#: Widely used for developing enterprise-level applications, web applications (ASP.NET), desktop applications (Windows Forms, WPF, UWP), mobile applications (Xamarin/MAUI), games (Unity), and cloud services. 8. Syntax and Complexity: * C: Can be considered more verbose and lower-level in its syntax, requiring more manual control. * C#: Offers a more modern, higher-level, and often more concise syntax with features like LINQ, async/await, and properties that simplify common programming patterns. It aims to be more beginner-friendly than C++.

Manoj Dwivedi · Answer

Feature C C# Level Low-level (closer to hardware) High-level (managed by .NET) Platform Cross-platform (via compiler) Runs on .NET Framework / .NET Core Memory Management Manual (uses pointers, malloc ) Automatic (Garbage Collection) Syntax Simple, procedural Object-oriented with advanced features Development Code and compile manually Rich IDE support (e.g., Visual Studio) Use Case System programming, embedded Web, desktop, cloud, and mobile apps Speed Faster, more control Slower but safer and easier to develop Safety Less safe (no type or memory checks) Type-safe and managed environment

Jaya Prakash · Answer

Sure, here's a slightly longer but still concise comment you can post: C# is a modern, object-oriented language that runs on the .NET platform with features like garbage collection, type safety, and a large standard library. C , on the other hand, is a procedural, low-level language offering manual memory management and direct hardware access, making it ideal for system-level programming. C# is better for rapid application development, while C gives more control over performance and memory. Feature C C# Type Procedural Object-oriented (with functional & imperative features) Memory Manual memory management via malloc / free Automatic garbage collection Platform Cross-platform, compiled to machine code Runs on .NET CLR (now cross-platform with .NET Core/.NET 5+) Syntax Low-level, minimal abstraction High-level, rich standard library Pointers Full pointer support Limited (unsafe code blocks only) Use Cases Systems programming, embedded Desktop, web, cloud, enterprise apps Compilation Compiled with GCC/Clang to native code Compiled to IL, then JIT or AOT compiled by .NET runtime

Cynthia Sathuragiri · Answer

C is an old, low-level language — it’s close to the computer. You have to manage memory yourself and tell the computer exactly what to do step by step. It’s great for building things like operating systems, embedded programs, and hardware drivers. C# is a modern, high-level language — it runs on the .NET framework, manages memory automatically, and has many built-in tools. It’s easier to use for making apps, games, and websites.

Sam Hobbs · Answer

Note that wheras it is true that compiled code runs only on the same OS the C language was designed to be portable to a new system simply by compiling for the other system. I had a conversation with ChatGPT and it helped me get some clarification. C is ideal for system-level code but is not limited to that domain. As I said before, it is better to compare C# to C++. C has become less popular for in-house applicatioons mainly because C++ is usually prefered for that.

How is C# different from C

How is C# different from C

Answers (8)