What is the difference between C++ and Java?

Both C++ and Java use similar syntax and are Object Oriented, but:

 

􀂃 Java does not support pointers. Pointers are inherently tricky to use and troublesome.

 

􀂃 Java does not support multiple inheritances because it causes more problems than it solves. Instead Java

supports multiple interface inheritance, which allows an object to inherit many method signatures from

different interfaces with the condition that the inheriting object must implement those inherited methods. The

multiple interface inheritance also allows an object to behave polymorphically on those methods.

 

􀂃 Java does not support destructors but adds a finalize() method. Finalize methods are invoked by the garbage

collector prior to reclaiming the memory occupied by the object, which has the finalize() method. This means

you do not know when the objects are going to be finalized. Avoid using finalize() method to release nonmemory

resources like file handles, sockets, database connections etc because Java has only a finite number of these resources

and you do not know when the garbage collection is going to kick in to release these resources through the finalize() method.

 

􀂃 Java does not include structures or unions because the traditional data structures are implemented as an

object oriented framework.

 

􀂃 All the code in Java program is encapsulated within classes therefore Java does not have global variables or

functions.

 

􀂃 C++ requires explicit memory management, while Java includes automatic garbage collection.