C++ vs C#

Last Updated : 08 May, 2025

C++ and C# both are commonly used programming languages and came up with different powerful features used in different use cases. In this article, we are going to explore the common differences between these two programming languages based on their distinct features, use cases, and ecosystems.

C# is a general-purpose, modern, and object-oriented programming language pronounced as “C sharp”. It was developed by Microsoft led by Anders Hejlsberg and his team.
C++ is a statically typed, multiparadigm, and object-oriented programming language. In the beginning, C++ was termed as C with classes. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup at AT&T Bell Laboratories.

Difference Between C++ and C#

Below are some major differences between C++ and C#:

Feature	C++	C#
Memory Management	In C++ memory management is performed manually by the programmer. If a programmer creates an object then he is responsible for destroying that object after the completion of that object’s task.	In C# memory management is performed automatically by the garbage collector. If the programmer creates an object and after the completion of that object’s task the garbage collector will automatically delete that object.
Platform Dependency	C++ code needs to be recompiled for each platform, but it can be run on any platform with the appropriate compiler. C++ is used where the application needs to directly communicate with hardware.	C# code is Windows-specific. But since Microsoft released .NET core, C# applicaitons started working on MacOS and Linux too.
Multiple Inheritance	C++ supports multiple inheritance through classes. This means that a class can extend more than one class at a time.	C# does not support any multiple inheritances through classes.
Bound Checking	In C++, bound checking is not performed by the compiler. If a programmer tries to access an invalid array index, it will lead to undefined behavior, which can result in runtime errors, crashes, or incorrect results. The compiler does not generate any errors or warnings for out-of-bounds access.	In C#, bound checking is performed at runtime, not by the compiler. If a programmer tries to access an invalid array index, it will throw a runtime exception (`IndexOutOfRangeException`), preventing the program from continuing with invalid data access.
Pointers	In C++ pointers can be used anywhere in the program.	In C# pointers can be used only in unsafe mode.
Language Type	C++ is a low-level language.	C# is a high-level object-oriented language.
Level of Difficulty	C++ includes very complex features.	C# is quite easy because it has a well-defined hierarchy of classes.
Application Types	C++ is typically used for console applications.	C# is used to develop mobile, windows, and console applications.
Compilation	C++ code gets converted into machine code directly after compilation.	C# code gets converted into intermediate language code after compilation.
Object Oriented	C++ is not a pure object-oriented programming language due to the primitive data types.	C# is a pure object-oriented programming language.
Access Specifiers	The access modifiers are public, private, and protected. It does not contain internal & protected internal access modifiers.	In C# public, private, protected, internal & protected internal are used for access specifiers.
Test Variable	In the switch statement, the test variable can not be a string.	In the switch statement, the test variable can be a string.
Control statement	It does not contain such an extra flow control statement.	In addition to for, while and do while; it has another flow control statement called for each.
Function Pointers	It does have the concept of function pointers.	C# does have the concept of function pointers, but they are implemented differently compared to languages like C++. In C#, delegates serve as function pointers.
Binaries	In C++, the size of binaries is low and lightweight.	In C# size of binaries is high because of overhead libraries.
Garbage Collection	C++ does not support garbage collection.	Garbage collection is supported by C#
Types of Projects	It is mainly used for such projects that focus on accessing the hardware and better performance.	It is mainly used in modern application development.

Basics of C++

C++ is a general-purpose programming language that includes object-oriented paradigms to improve the C language. C++ language is both imperative and compiled. Inheritance, Encapsulation, Polymorphism (both static and dynamic), and other object-oriented principles are supported by C++. In C++, classes and objects are not required to compile code. Thus, it can be termed a semi-object-oriented language.

The C++ programming language is used by many large software companies, such as Microsoft, IBM, etc., and can be used for developing desktop applications, video games, servers, e-commerce, web search, and databases, as well as high-performance applications, such as telephone switches and space probes.

For more information, refer to the article: Introduction to C++ Programming Language

Example:

C++

// File name hello_world.cpp
// C++ program to print hello world
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int main()
{

    cout << "Hello World" << endl;
    return 0;
}

Output

Hello World

Compilation of C++ Program

Basics of C#

C# is run on the Common Language Runtime (CLR) which is a component of the Microsoft .NET Framework that manages the execution of .NET applications. It is responsible for loading and executing the code written in various .NET programming languages, including C#, VB.NET, F#, and others.

When a C# program is compiled, the resulting executable code is in an intermediate language called Common Intermediate Language (CIL) or Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL). This code is not machine-specific, and it can run on any platform that has the CLR installed. When the CIL code is executed, the CLR compiles it into machine code that can be executed by the processor.

For more reference refer to this article Introduction to C#.

Compilation of C# Program

Example:

// firle name: hello_world.cs
// C# program to print hello world!
using System;

public class Geeks
{
    static public void Main ()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Hello world!");

    }
 }

Output

Hello world!

C# - Char Struct

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C++ vs C#

Difference Between C++ and C#

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Compilation of C# Program

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