Looking for the difference between Rust vs C++? Rust is a general-purpose, multi-paradigm programming language that focuses on performance and safety. It is particularly in the context of safe concurrency. While C++ is an upgraded version of the C language. It is an object-oriented language. Which is comparatively faster than the Rust programming language.
Therefore, in today’s article, we will cover why students feel difficulty in choosing between these two languages. Also, we will cover some good points of both (Rust vs C++) languages. Therefore keep reading this article and get the information regarding these two languages. Let’s start the article by discussing them in detail, starting with the C++ programming language.
An overview of C++ programming language
C++ is an object-oriented programming language. It is the updated version of the C programming language. It provides a better way for writing the programmes as it contains the concepts of the classes and the objects.
Classes are the prototypes and objects are the instances of the class. Classes get memory when the objects are declared. We can make as many objects of a particular class. And when we have to free the memory then we have to run the destructor function only once. Therefore C++ has some great functionalities.
Features of C++
- Encapsulation (Data-Binding): As discussed above we can bind the data into a single entity known as the class. Therefore when we have to use them we can create objects out of them. Therefore, due to the use of classes, we do not have to write similar code again and again.
- Abstraction (Data-Hiding): Another feature of C++ programming is that we can hide sensitive data from the reach of the user. For achieving it we can use the access modifiers like private and protected. Protected only work within the inherited classes only.
- File Handling: We can now handle different files in our program. It becomes important when we have to save some information like the user data etc. Also, we can write some code in one file and some in other files for our convenience. After that, we can import them and use them within a single file.
- Exception handling: We can also control the exceptions in our program. For doing it we use the try and catch method. We can write the code in the try block and use the catch block to see if our programme encounters an error. The biggest benefit of it is that the code will run at least once.
An overview of Rust programming language
Mozilla created the Rust programming language to create a better tool for developing their Firefox browser. Rust is comparable to C++ in syntax, but it has more concurrency and greater memory safety. Rust is mostly used to create device drivers and operating systems like BlogOS, QuiltOS, and intermezzOS etc.
Features of the Rust
- Exception Handling in an effective way: When compared to GCC, the error messages in C++ programming are vastly improved. In terms of clarity, Rust takes it a step further. In a program, error messages are presented with (formatting, colors) and also propose misspellings.
- The type inference: Rust has a type inference feature, which means it automatically detects the type of an expression.
- Pattern matching: Thisfeature is available in Rust. Pattern matching in Rust uses patterns in conjunction with the match expressions to provide the programmer additional control over the control flow of the programme.
- Safer memory: Variables that own memory space in Rust applications can temporarily rent memory to the other variables. This allows Rust to offer memory protection without depending on the garbage collector at compile time.
Let’s compare Rust vs C++
- Memory safety: Memory safety is left to the developer in C++, however, memory safety bounds in Rust are built-in. If memory safety is a concern in C++, then Rust might be a good approach.
Rust dangling pointers, Null pointers, and data races do not allow. Only a limited number of forms can use to initialize data values, and all of them require that their inputs should already be set.
- Concurrency: When two threads acquire the same memory at the very same time, this is known as a data race. And it can result in some ugly, unpredictable behavior.
Thankfully, Rust is all about eliminating undefined behavior. Multithreading is frequently far more tricky than this and avoiding errors in C++ may be even more challenging.
- Community Support: The Rust community is rapidly expanding, and the language is improving at a similar rate. But still, it is not mature yet.
Whereas the community of C++ is one of the biggest out there. Therefore you will not have any problem related to almost any query for C++.
- Function overloading: It is the use of the same names of the functions with a different number of parameters and arguments.
C++ provides one of the best features. But in Rest, you can’t use this feature.
This is the actual difference between Rust vs C++.
Let’s wrap it up!
As you can see, there are several differences to consider in both (Rust vs C++) languages. In the race between Rust and C++, there is no clear winner.
If you’re still unsure about which language to use in your project (which is understandable if you’re not a developer), talk with the experts. They can help you to make relevant decisions.
