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Difference between Python and CPP

Difference between Python and C++

We all know that both C++ and Python are two of the most popular programming languages. Both C++ and Python shares some basic similarities such as Both programming languages are based on the Object-oriented programming (OOPs) concept, both are of high-level language and many other features as well. But they are not only similar to each other.

Both Python and C++ have many differences in them. On the basis of these differences between C++ and Python, one can easily able to make choices that whom language he should go with. In this tutorial, we will talk about all the major differences between C++ and Python and list them out based on some features.

We can choose with which programming language we should go with and which one is suitable for our need according to these differences. But before talking about the differences between Python and C++, let's first look at the brief of both languages.

What is C++?

C++ is a programming language based of extension C language that is why C++ is also known as C with classes programming language. Bjarne Stroustrup in 1979 developed the C++ which is a general purpose and high-level programming build over C language. Object-oriented programming concept or the concept of OOPs was first introduced with the development of C++, therefore C++ is also called as the Object-oriented programming language.

When C++ was developed, it was designed for the purposes such as embedded systems, system programming etc. but now we use it in developing various applications like servers for the e-commerce, desktop applications, SQL or web search, video games and critical-performance applications such as switches of telephone etc performance.

That's why C++ has become very popular over time and expanded to many fields in the modern programming languages.

What is Python?

Guido van Rossum was the person who developed Python in the year 1991 and similar to C++, it is also the high level and general purpose-based programming language. When the Python was being developed, the main aim while developing it was the simplicity of the language. Python also shares the concepts of OOPs and is one of the powerful object-oriented programming languages.

Python contains some very rich and unique features which makes it very powerful programming language such as indentation that helps in increasing the readability of the code.

Python also have very vast libraries and library functions which makes Python an impactful language over other programming language. Because of the simplicity and powerful nature of Python, it has grown as the one of the most popular choices among programming languages in industry.

According to the IEEE's top programming language report of the year 2018, Python was declared as the top programming language.

Differences between Python and C++

We have seen the brief of the both languages and gained a basic idea of both the programming languages. Now, we will look at the differences between these two languages and understand how they differ from each other according to features of them.

To list out the differences between Python and C++, we will use some common properties of both the languages as well as some other properties too.

Following are the names of some common properties or feature of both language that we are going to use to list out the differences between these two programming languages:

  • Syntax of language
  • Speed of language
  • Efficiency of language
  • Nature of language
  • Garbage collection of language
  • Compilation of language
  • Code of language etc.

These general features will help us to see a clear difference between the two languages. Now, let's look at the following differences:

Feature of LanguagePythonC++
Code of language  In Python, we only have to write less lines to codes to run the program effectively.  Whereas in the C++, we have to write down more lines of code and it makes the code very large.  
Syntax of language  The Syntax of the Python language is very easy and therefore it is very straightforward us to remember the syntax of Python.  In C++, there are lots of predefined structures and syntax present in it. That's why we can see a stiff learning curve in C++ and syntaxes of C++ isn't easy to remember.  
Speed of language  Python have slower speed for compilation of code as compared to C++ because Python determines the data type of variables on the run-time of program and it uses interpreter.  C++ have very fast speed for the compilation of code and this is because in C++, we have to pre define the data types and it uses compiler for the compilation of code.  
Efficiency of language  The Python program is very easy to maintain and very simpler to use and it is also the object-oriented programmed.  But the C++ program is not very clean and not easy to manage as compared to Python program.  
Nature of language  The Python programming language is dynamically typed language in nature.  The C++ programming language is statically typed language in nature.  
Compilation of code  Python uses an interpreter for the compilation for the code we have write in it.C++ runs the code we have written in it with the help of a compiler.  
Garbage collection of code  The garbage collection feature of programming languages is present in Python.  C++ doesn't support the Garbage collection feature of programming languages.  
Rapid prototyping of language  The Rapid prototyping of language is possible in the Python just because of the small size of the code in Python program.  The Rapid prototyping of language is not possible in the C++ due to the larger size of the code in C++ programs.  
Installation of language  The installation of Python in the windows OS is not very easy and it will be going to take more time as compared to C++.  Installation of C++ very easy and we can do it very fast too.  
Keywords of language  Python contains a total of 33 keywords in it.  C++ contains a total of 52 keywords in it.  
Allocation of language  In Python, the allocation of the variables in the program is performed by Python itself.  C++ doesn't support the allocation of the variables by itself. We have to allocate the new variable in the C++ program and deallocate when we don't require the variable anymore in the program.  
Functions of language  The functions present in the Python program don't have any restrictions for the types of parameters and return type given in it to accept the values provided in the function.  In C++ program, the function defined in it will accept the value as an argument in the function and it will return the type of the value depending upon the return type we defined in the function.  
Loop variables of language  The variables present in a loop in the Python program is also accessible outside of the loop.  The variables present in a loop in the C++ program is not accessible outside of that loop.  
Memory Management of language  The memory management feature of Python is very effective and easy and it saves a lot of time.  The memory management feature of C++ is not that effective and easy as compared to Python.  
Web development of language  Python is one of the most popular choices among programming languages who used in the field of web development.  C++ has never been a popular choice for the web development field and not considered as a good option for it.  

Conclusion

After seeing all the differences as we mentioned above, we can draw the conclusion that a beginner in the field of programming should start with the Python language as it very easy to learn and understand and it can be chosen over C++ anytime while recommending it to a beginner.

Because of the rich features of Python over C++, it is always considered as a favorite choice in many fields such as Machine learning, Data science whereas C++ is not considered as a good choice in these fields.


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