C: C is a structured, mid-level, general-purpose programming language that was developed at Bell Laboratories between 1972-73 by Dennis Ritchie. It was built as a foundation for developing the UNIX operating system. Being a mid-level language, C lacks the built-in functions that are characteristic of high-level languages, but it provides all the building blocks that developers need. C follows the structure-oriented approach, that is, the top-down approach that fragments a program into smaller functions.
What makes C unique is that it is optimized for low-level memory management tasks that were previously written in Assembly language (the code follows the hexadecimal format that can directly access memory locations).This is precisely why C is used in building OS architectures. Even today, both UNIX and Linux derivatives are heavily dependent on C for many functions.
Python: Python is a general-purpose, high-level programming language that was developed by Guido Rossum in 1989. What makes Python amazing is its simple syntax that is almost similar to the English language and dynamic typing capability. The straightforward syntax allows for easy code readability.
Also, being an interpreted language, Python is an ideal language for scripting and rapid application development on most platforms and is so popular with the developers. Scripting languages incorporate both interactive and dynamic functionalities via web-based applications.
| Metrices | C | Python |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | C is a general-purpose, procedural computer programming language. | Python is an interpreted, high-level, general-purpose programming language. |
| Speed | Compiled programs execute faster as compared to interpreted programs. | Interpreted programs execute slower as compared to compiled programs. |
| Usage | Program syntax is harder than Python. | It is easier to write a code in Python as the number of lines is less comparatively. |
| Declaration of variables | In C, the type of a variable must be declared when it is created, and only values of that type must be assigned to it. | There is no need to declare the type of variable. Variables are untyped in Python. A given variable can be stuck on values of different types at different times during the program execution |
| Error Debugging | In C, error debugging is difficult as it is a compiler dependent language. This means that it takes the entire source code, compiles it and then shows all the errors. | Error debugging is simple. This means it takes only one in instruction at a time and compiles and executes simultaneously. Errors are shown instantly and the execution is stopped, at that instruction. |
| Function renaming mechanism | C does not support function renaming mechanism. This means the same function cannot be used by two different names. | Supports function renaming mechanism i.e, the same function can be used by two different names. |
| Complexity | The syntax of a C program is harder than Python. | Syntax of Python programs is easy to learn, write and read. |
| Memory-management | In C, the Programmer has to do memory management on their own. | Python uses an automatic garbage collector for memory management. |
| Applications | C is generally used for hardware related applications. | Python is a General-Purpose programming language. |
| Built-in functions | C has a limited number of built-in functions. | Python has a large library of built-in functions. |
| Implementing Data Structures | Implementing data structures requires its functions to be explicitly implemented | Gives ease of implementing data structures with built-in insert, append functions. |
| Pointers | Pointers are available in C. | No pointers functionality available in Python. |
Conclusion
A tough question arises as to when to use Python and when to use C. C vs Python languages are similar yet have many key differences. These languages are useful languages to develop various applications. The difference between C and Python is that Python is a multi-paradigm language and C is a structured programming language. Python is a general-purpose language that is used for machine learning, natural language processing, web development and many more. C is mainly used for hardware-related application development such as operating systems, network drivers. In the present competitive market, it is not enough to master only one programming language. To be a versatile and competent programmer, you need to master multiple languages.
