Comparing Python with C and C++
Last Updated : 27 May, 2025
In the following article, we will compare the 3 most used coding languages from a beginner's perspective. It will help you to learn basics of all the 3 languages together while saving your time and will also help you to inter shift from one language you know to the other which you don't. Let's discuss a brief history of all the 3 languages and then we will move on to the practical learning.
C Vs C++ Vs Python
| C | C++ | Python |
|---|
| C was developed by Dennis Ritchie between the year 1969 and 1973 at AT&T Bell Labs. | C++ was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup in 1979. | Python was created by Guido van Rossum and released in 1991. |
| More difficult to write code in contrast to both Python and C++ due to complex syntax. | C++ code is less complex than C but more complex in contrast to Python. | Easier to write code. |
| Longer lines of code as compared to Python. | Longer lines of code as compared to Python. | 3-5 times shorter than equivalent C/C++ programs. |
| Variables are declared in C. | Variables are declared in C++ | Python has no declaration. |
| C is a compiled language. | C++ is a compiled language. | Python is an interpreted language. |
| C contains 32 keywords. | C++ contains 52 keywords. | Python contains 33 keywords. |
| For the development of code, C supports procedural programming. | C++ is known as a hybrid language because C++ supports both procedural and object-oriented programming paradigms. | Python supports multiple programming paradigms, including procedural, object-oriented, and functional programming. |
| C does not support inheritance. | C++ supports both single and multiple inheritance | Python supports all 5 types of inheritance, i.e., single inheritance, multiple inheritance, multilevel inheritance, hierarchical inheritance, and hybrid inheritance |
| C provides malloc() and calloc() functions for dynamic memory allocation, and free() for memory deallocation. | C++ provides a new operator for memory allocation and a delete operator for memory deallocation. | Python’s memory allocation and deallocation methods are automatic. |
| Direct support for exception handling is not supported by C. | Exception handling is supported by C++. | Exception handling is supported by Python. |
Library and Header files inclusion
- Header Files: The files that tell the compiler how to call some functionality (without knowing how the functionality actually works) are called header files. They contain the function prototypes. They also contain Data types and constants used with the libraries. We use #include to use these header files in programs. These files end with .h extension.
- Library: Library is the place where the actual functionality is implemented i.e. they contain function body.
- Modules: A module is a file containing Python definitions and statements. A module can define functions, classes, and variables. A module can also include runnable code. Grouping related code into a module makes the code easier to understand and use. Import in python is similar to #include header_file in C/C++. Python modules can get access to code from another module by importing the file/function using import.
C++ // C++ program to demonstrate // adding header file #include <iostream> using namespace std; #include <math.h>
// C program to demonstrate // adding header file #include <stdio.h> #include <string.h>
# Python program to demonstrate # including modules import tensorflow # Including a class # from existing module from tensorflow import keras
Main method declaration
Main method declaration is declaring to computer that from here the implementation of my code should be done. The process of declaring main is same in C and C++. As we declare int main where int stands for return type we should have to return something integral at the end of code so that it compiles without error. We can write our code in between the curly braces.
C++ // C++ program to demonstrate // declaring main #include <iostream> int main() { // Your code here return 0; } // C program to demonstrate // declaring main #include <stdio.h> int main() { // Your code here return 0; } It is not necessary to declare main in python code unless and until you are declaring another function in your code. So we can declare main in python as follows.
Python # Python program to demonstrate # declaring main def main(): # write your code here if __name__=="__main__": main()
Declaring Variables
In C and C++ we first declare the data type of the variable and then declare the name of Variables. A few examples of data types are int, char, float, double, etc.
Python is not "statically typed". We do not need to declare variables before using them or declare their type. A variable is created the moment we first assign a value to it.
C++ // C++ program to demonstrate // declaring variables #include <iostream.h> int main() { // Declaring one variable at a time int a; // Declaring more than one variable char a, b, c, d; // Initializing variables float a = 0, b, c; b = 1; return 0; } // C program to demonstrate // declaring variable #include <stdio.h> int main() { // Declaring one variable at a time int a; // Declaring more than one variable char a, b, c, d; // Initializing variables float a = 0, b, c; b = 1; return 0; } # Python program to demonstrate # creating variables # An integer assignment age = 45 # A floating point salary = 1456.8 # A string name = "John"
Printing to console
The Syntax for printing something as output is different for all the 3 languages.
C++ // C++ program to showing // how to print data // on screen #include <iostream> using namespace std; int main() { cout << "Hello World"; return 0; } // C program to showing // how to print data // on screen #include <stdio.h> int main() { printf("Hello World"); return 0; } # Python program to showing # how to print data # on screen print("Hello World") The Syntax for taking input from the user is different in all three languages, so let's see the syntax and write your first basic code in all the 3 languages.
C++ // C++ program showing // how to take input // from user #include <iostream> using namespace std; int main() { int a, b, c; cout << "first number: "; cin >> a; cout << endl; cout << "second number: "; cin >> b; cout << endl; c = a + b; cout << "Hello World" << endl; cout << a << "+" << b << "=" << c; return 0; } // C program showing // how to take input // from user #include <stdio.h> int main() { int a, b, c; printf("first number: "); scanf("%d", &a); printf("second number: "); scanf("%d", &b); c = a + b; printf("Hello World\n%d + %d = %d", a, b, c); return 0; } # Python program showing # how to take input # from user a = input("first number: ") b = input("second number: ") c = a + b print("Hello World") print(a, "+", b, "=", c) Must Read
Conclusion
C, C++, and Python each have their own strengths and learning curves. C is fast and powerful but more complex, C++ adds object-oriented features making it more versatile, while Python is beginner-friendly with simple syntax and automatic memory management. Understanding the basics like syntax, variable declaration, input/output, and programming styles in all three helps you learn efficiently and switch between them easily. Whether you aim for system-level programming, game development, or modern scripting, knowing these differences will guide you to choose the right tool for your coding journey.