C or C++ – Which is Easier to Learn?

C and C++ are two languages that are used by programmers extensively. People who are interested in software development always ask below questions to initiate their learning.

Questions are as below:

1. 1. Which Language should I learn first: C or C++?
2. 2. C or C++: which language is easier to learn?

Although one language is derived from the other, they are actually quite different from each other and one of them is easier to learn.

About C

C language was initially developed by Dennis Ritchie between 1969 and 1973. It was developed as a system programming language to write operating systems and its features make it suitable for system programming.

Some of its features are as below:

1. 1. A simple set of keywords
2. 2. Low-level access to memory
3. 3. A variety of data types and powerful operators
4. 4. Ability to extend itself
5. 5. Rich set of built-in functions and operators
6. 6. It is highly portable

Many languages that were developed after C have borrowed some features from C language. Some of them are Java, JavaScript, and PHP.

About C++

C++ is a general purpose middle-level programming language developed by Bjarne Stroustrup in 1979. It runs on any platform, such as UNIX, Windows, and Mac OS. It is similar to the C language, but it is safer than C language.

Some of its features are as below:

1. 1. Low-level memory manipulation
2. 2. It is an enhanced form of C programming
3. 3. It has less compiled time
4. 4. Data hiding
5. 5. It is much suitable for large projects

You can learn C++ and C in any order that you want; however, C is much easier to learn than C++.

Below are some of the reasons why C language is easier to learn:

1. 1. C++ is the super-set of C language
2. 2. Learning C++ takes a lot of effort
3. 3. C is easier to write because it is procedural
4. 4. C++ cannot be easily written as C because it is object-oriented
5. 5. The inbuilt libraries in C language are easier to understand
6. 6. C has fewer language features than C++