Java vs C++ Which One Should You Choose And Why?

If you are someone new to the programming world or just want to shift into a new language, it is easy to get overwhelmed as there are so many programming languages to learn. Two of the most critical and influential languages are Java vs C++. 

Each programming language has its own use cases, and people often have some misconceptions about those use cases. So, here we are today to inform you all about Java and C++. So, Java vs. C++, which one is superior? Let’s put these two languages up against each other. 

Before Getting Started

Before we start to talk about both languages, we need to understand some critical programming mew mew, and the dog can be described as something that can bark. 

Now, it can get tedious if you have to write two different programs to describe a cat and a dog. What if you could create just one program for animals and define it as how it sounds? Now, instead of two codes, you have only one that can be reused for both cats and dogs. 

If we get back into the technical terms, you may find something called “this” or “self” that is used to refer to the object you are going to use. The most common object-oriented method is the class-based method, where you use one class and then reuse it multiple times. 

Class-based programming

I hope I was able to clarify the concept of object-oriented programming. Now, we will talk about one of the most common aspects of object-oriented programming, which is class-based programming. 

Here, our program inherits the code from a class and prevents the reuse of the same code multiple times. What exactly is inheritance? Suppose your father has some property, and after his death, you now own all of that property. The same thing happens in class-based programming, where you write a class and later inherit that code multiple times. 

Another concept you need to know about is encapsulation, which enables changes to a class of objects’ implementation for features not available in the interface without influencing user code.

Java

Alright, enough talking about those boring concepts; now let’s get into what you’ve been waiting for. First, we will talk about what Java is. and what you should know about this programming language 

Java is an object-oriented, high-level, class-based programming language. We hope now you have an idea of what kind of features you can expect from the Java programming language. Java is one of those languages that works seamlessly on all platforms, which means if you code on a Windows machine, you don’t have to recompile the program for a different operating system like Linux or Mac. 

Used Cases

Before learning any programming language, our first question is, “What do I do with this language?”  If you have a strong interest in video games, the name Java should ring a bell and transport you back to your childhood gaming days. 

Gaming

Remember those old Java phones with some fantastic games, and whenever you launched one game, the first thing you saw was the Java opening screen? Or you may be a hardcore PC gamer, in which case the first thing Java may remind you of is the wonderful blocky world of Minecraft.

Yes, Java is one of those languages that is widely used in the video game industry. Nowadays, you may find that a lot of Android games are also made with Java. However, in the PC gaming industry, Java is not that widely used anymore. 

Android App Development

The most popular use of Java today is in Android app development. Java is an excellent programming language when it comes to Android apps. Even the most common and influential apps like Google and LinkedIn are using Java to operate their Android operations.  

So, if you are looking forward to starting your career in Android app development, you may consider learning Java as your first language. 

Easy To Master

If you know anything about languages, you might raise your eyebrows when I say Java is a simple language to learn. Yes, I know it looks a bit odd, but once you get a grasp of this language, you will not have any problem mastering it.

For those who are new in this area, you may be wondering why many people are afraid of Java. If you want to write a simple “hello world” code ( a code that will display “hello world” in your output), this is what you have to type. 

class HelloWorld {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println("Hello World!"); 
    }
}
Code language: Java (java)

C++

C++ is also a high-level language and a general-purpose language that is an extension of the mother of all programming languages, C. Many schools or colleges prefer to teach C as an introduction to the programming world. 

If you are one of those who started their coding journey with the C programming language, then you may notice one thing. The C programming language does not have that class-based, object-oriented programming system. 

On the other hand, if you look at C++, you will find that they have a detailed class system; this is why C++ is known as “C with classes.” Let’s talk about all the amazing stuff you can do using this language. 

Gaming

The first thing that comes to mind when we talk about C++ is the Unreal Engine. This amazing game engine by Epic Games is mostly made with C++, and you need to know C++ to work with this language. 

For the last decade, Unreal Engine 4.0 has made some mind-blowing graphical games that look and feel immersive, and now Unreal Engine 5.0 is here to make games closer to realism than ever.  

This game engine is free to use, and learning C++ can be the best choice if game development is your go-to career.

Operating System

One of the prominent features of C++ is, this language is super fast thus it is a great choice to create an operating system. C++ is already used in some important and influential operating systems. 

A good chunk of macOS X and some notable Microsoft application like windows, visual studio code, and MS Office is written using the C++ language.

GUI Application and Web Browser

f you want to code some GUI applications and web browsers that require fast response, then the best choice is to make them using C++. Powerful programs like Photoshop, Illustrator, and web browsers like Firefox and Chrome are mostly written in C++.

So applications with fast response times are mostly written in C++, and this is why knowing C++ is a great place to start. 

Code Sample

C++ is nearly identical to C, and both languages have a similar structure if you look closely. So, if you learned C in high school or college, learning C++ will be a breeze.  

For a better understanding, here is a C++ code sample. that will print “Hello, world!” in the console. Do not get frightened by just looking at the code sample; C++ is also easy to grasp, and once you have an understanding of the syntax, your hands will just freely flow on your keyboard. 

#include <iostream>

int main() {
    std::cout << "Hello World!";
    return 0;
}
Code language: C++ (cpp)

Comparison Chart

Well, I think I have spoken too many words for a day! To help you easily understand what I have said so far, here’s a comparison table for Java vs. C++.

Java	C++
Java is a high-level object-oriented class-based program.	C++ is an intermediate-level language where it can function as both high and low-level language, it is also an object-oriented high-level language.
Java is commonly used in android app development	C++ is commonly used in the game engine, web browsers, GUI applications, and apps that need faster response times.
You cannot use inheritance in Java	C++ offers multiple inheritances in your code
Some notable applications made with Java are Minecraft, Google, and LinkedIn Android Edition.	Some of the notable applications made with C++ are the MacOS X, Visual Studio Code, Windows, and MS Office

Conclusion 

Both Java and C++ are responsible for some of the most influential programs in the world. So, choosing either of these programming languages can be a great boost to your computer engineering career. As I have also talked about what you can do with those languages, you can just relax and think hard about what is best for your career progression.