Whether you‘re new to coding or an experienced developer, you‘ve probably heard about C++ and Java. These programming languages have been around for decades and are still two of the most popular options.
In this guide, we‘ll dive into the key differences between C++ and Java, their history and uses, performance, and other comparisons to help you see which language may be best for your needs. By the end, you‘ll have a solid overview so you can decide which one is right for you!
A Quick Intro
First, let‘s briefly introduce C++ and Java at a high level.
C++ is an object-oriented language created by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979. It‘s known for its speed, efficiency, and use in systems programming. C++ powers performance-critical software like game engines, operating systems, databases, and more.
Java was created at Sun Microsystems in 1991 and led by James Gosling. It‘s known for simplicity, cross-platform portability, and widespread use on the web, mobile, and enterprise applications.
| C++ | Java | |
|---|---|---|
| Created | 1979 by Bjarne Stroustrup | 1991 by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems |
| Key features | Speed, efficiency, low-level control | Portability, ease of use, built-in memory management |
| Primary uses | Operating systems, game engines, desktop/server applications | Web apps, mobile apps, enterprise backend |
| Influenced by | C, Simula | C, C++ |
| Key platforms | Windows, Linux, MacOS | JVM runs on Windows, Linux, MacOS, Android |
| Paradigm | Multi-paradigm (OOP, procedural) | Object-oriented only |
| Typing discipline | Static typing | Static typing |
| License | Open source | Open source |
| Latest stable version | C++20 (2020) | Java 18 (2022) |
Now let‘s look deeper at the history and noteworthy features of each language.
C++ – A language with longevity
C++ has been around for decades and still remains one of the most widely-used languages. Why does it have such staying power?
C++ was created by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell Labs. Stroustrup wanted to add object-oriented programming (OOP) features to C to make it more suitable for large, real-world software development.
In fact, C++ was originally called "C with Classes" before getting its official name in 1983.
Some key milestones in C++‘s history:
- 1985 – The first commercial release of C++
- 1989 – Release of C++ 2.0 with features like multiple inheritance
- 2011 – C++11 added major improvements for modern development
- 2020 – The latest standard C++20 adds concepts, modules, and more
Unlike many languages, C++ does not get pushed aside as new languages come out. It evolves to maintain its usefulness. The performance and degree of control in C++ make it ideal for applications like:
- Operating systems
- Game engines
- High-frequency trading systems
- Database engines
- And more
In the latest TIOBE Index (November 2022), C++ ranks 3rd among popular programming languages. On the IEEE Spectrum top languages ranking, C++ comes in at 5th place. So while not as talked about as newer languages, it remains firmly in the top tier.
Java – Built for portability
Java also has an extensive history and large user base. It was designed from the ground up to make cross-platform development easier.
Java was created at Sun Microsystems starting in 1991 by James Gosling and colleagues (known as the "Green Team"). Originally called Oak, then Green, it finally got the name Java in 1995.
The key goals for Java were:
- Portability – Run on any platform without recompiling
- Safety – Avoid errors like memory corruption
- Approachability – Easy to learn with simplified C/C++ syntax
Some major events in Java‘s history include:
- 1996 – Java 1.0 is released to the public
- 2006 – Sun releases Java as open source
- 2009 – Oracle acquires Sun Microsystems
- 2022 – Java 18 is the latest LTS release
Java sees extensive use in:
- Web applications/APIs
- Android mobile app development
- Enterprise and backend systems
- Big data and data science
- And more
On the TIOBE index, Java currently ranks 2nd. The IEEE Spectrum ranking puts Java at the #1 spot. So by most measures, Java continues to be one of the top languages.
Comparing Technical Features
Now let‘s compare some key technical capabilities of C++ and Java to see how they differ under the hood.
Speed and Performance
C++ compiles directly to native machine code, so it‘s very fast and lightweight. C++ is preferred when performance is critical like in game engines or trading systems.
Java uses a Just-in-Time (JIT) compiler and runs on a Virtual Machine (JVM). This adds some overhead, but HotSpot optimization has narrowed the performance gap significantly.
Benchmarks like Computer Language Benchmark Game show C++ is still about 2-3x faster than Java for many standard algorithms.
But for typical business applications, the speed difference is often negligible. So performance should not be the main deciding factor for most uses today.
Memory Management
C++ allows manual control over memory allocation. This adds complexity but allows memory optimizations not possible in Java.
Java uses automatic garbage collection, freeing programmers from manual memory management. This avoids risks of issues like memory leaks in long-running systems.
Platform Support
With C++, you need to recompile code on each target platform like Windows, Linux, MacOS to run natively.
Java‘s bytecode can run on any platform with a JVM, without recompiling. This "write once, run anywhere" portability is a key advantage of Java.
Syntax
The syntax of C++ and Java has many similarities since they both derive from C. But Java omits some of the complexities like pointers, multiple inheritance, operator overloading, etc. This makes Java generally simpler and easier to read for beginners.
Here‘s a simple "hello world" example comparing the syntax:
// C++
#include <iostream>
int main() {
std::cout << "Hello World!";
return 0;
}// Java
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println("Hello World!");
}
}As you can see, Java‘s syntax is a bit more verbose but readable.
Compatibility
C++ has potential compatibility issues when integrating code using different versions/compilers. Binary compatibility is not guaranteed.
Java‘s bytecode keeps backwards compatibility across versions. Code compiled on Java 5, for example, will typically run on Java 8 or newer without issue.
Standard Library
Both languages provide extensive standard libraries for common data structures, I/O, utilities, etc.
Java‘s standard library contains more modern high-level features and utilities out of the box. C++‘s library is catching up in newer standards but still feels dated to some.
Open Source
C++ and Java compilers and libraries are open source. The GCC compiler is a popular C++ compiler, while OpenJDK is the open source Java platform.
So in summary, while the languages share common roots, we see C++ gives more control for high-performance systems programming while Java prioritizes ease of use, safety, and portability.
Comparing Community Support
Beyond technical capabilities, the community resources and ecosystem around a language also matter for adoption. How do C++ and Java compare on community support?
Learning Resources
As two of the most widely-used languages globally, both C++ and Java have abundant online tutorials, courses, blogs, Q&A forums, documentation, and other learning materials.
For beginners, Java may have even more options since its popularity in academic settings gives it a slight edge. But advanced C++ materials are also plentiful.
Libraries and Frameworks
Established languages have the benefit of mature open source ecosystems. On sites like GitHub, we see extensive libraries and frameworks available for both C++ and Java.
Java, especially for web development, tends to have even more framework options like Spring, Struts, JSF, etc. But C++ also has many specialized libraries for areas like game development, computer vision, and scientific computing.
Developer Community
Both languages have large international communities of developers using and discussing them online. Sites like Stack Overflow and Reddit have popular C++ and Java forums.
Java may see slightly higher discussion volume overall, likely thanks to its ubiquity in academic settings. But C++ also maintains an active community around its evolving standards.
Job Opportunities
C++ and Java developer roles remain in very high demand worldwide. In terms of raw numbers, Java jobs are often more plentiful, especially in web development. But C++ still powers much of the tech infrastructure driving companies today.
For example, LinkedIn‘s Top Skills 2022 Report lists Java at #2 and C++ at #9 among the top hard skills for jobs. Knowing one or both languages can provide great career opportunities.
Why Use Java or C++ Today?
With many newer languages like Python, JavaScript, Rust, and Go gaining popularity, you may wonder why developers continue using older languages like C++ and Java. What keeps these languages relevant today?
There are several good reasons:
- Maturity – They are time-tested and reliable for large mission-critical systems
- Performance – They are still top choices for high-performance software
- Ecosystem – Their ecosystems offer huge variety of libraries and tools
- Stability – Longer-term support policies and standards evolution
- Talent – Huge pool of experienced C++/Java developers available
- Legacy – Massive codebases already written and maintained in them
Companies don‘t always adopt the "latest and greatest" languages if existing options work well for them. The combination of maturity, ecosystem, talent, and legacy code keeps languages like C++/Java quite entrenched.
That said, many organizations use a mix of languages to take advantage of both new and established technology. For example, they may use Java for web apps but C++ for high-performance computing components accessed by that Java code.
So C++ and Java continue to cover specialized niches even as other languages grow in usage too.
Bottom Line
We‘ve covered a ton of ground comparing C++ and Java! Let‘s recap some key points:
- C++ focuses on high performance, low-level control, and versatility
- Java prioritizes portability, ease of use, and safety
- C++ sees major usage in game engines, operating systems, etc
- Java dominates on web, mobile, and enterprise applications
- For cross-platform development, Java is easier
- For maximum speed and efficiency, C++ is preferable
- Both have strong, active communities of millions of developers
- Each language still powers a massive amount of infrastructure and codebases
So which language wins? The truth is that both C++ and Java continue thriving because they solve different needs.
If you‘re considering learning your first language, Java may be a gentler starting point. But for specific domains like high-performance computing, C++ remains king.
Hopefully this overview gives you a better understanding of the unique strengths of C++ and Java. Both are versatile languages with decades of history that are still much loved by developers today.
With this knowledge, you can now decide which language fits best for your own coding needs and interests. Happy learning!
