Understanding the Difference Between C and Objective-C: A Comprehensive Guide

When you’re diving into the world of programming, especially if you’re working in Apple’s ecosystem, you might come across two seemingly related languages: C and Objective-C. While Objective-C is built on top of C, they serve different purposes and have distinct characteristics. In this guide, we’ll break down the differences between C and Objective-C to help you understand where each language fits and how they compare.

1. Introduction to C

C is one of the oldest and most foundational programming languages, developed in the early 1970s by Dennis Ritchie. It is a procedural programming language designed for system programming and low-level tasks, like developing operating systems (e.g., UNIX), embedded systems, and firmware.

Key Features of C:

• Procedural: C follows a procedural or imperative programming model, meaning it follows a step-by-step approach to executing functions.
• Low-level Access: It allows direct manipulation of memory through pointers, making it highly efficient for system-level programming.
• Portability: C code can run on different platforms with little modification, which is why it’s often referred to as a portable language.
• Speed: Being close to the hardware, C programs are typically fast and efficient.

Here’s a simple “Hello, World!” program in C:

c

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#include <stdio.h>

int main() {

    printf(“Hello, World!\n”);

    return 0;

}

2. Introduction to Objective-C

Objective-C was developed in the early 1980s by Brad Cox and Tom Love. It extends C by adding object-oriented programming features and is primarily known as the language behind Apple’s macOS and iOS development until Swift came along.

Key Features of Objective-C:

• Object-Oriented: Objective-C adds object-oriented features to C, such as classes, inheritance, and message passing.
• Dynamic Runtime: It has a dynamic runtime, allowing more flexibility at runtime as opposed to compile-time, a key aspect of dynamic programming languages.
• C Compatibility: Because Objective-C is built on top of C, you can use C code directly in Objective-C programs.
• Messaging Syntax: One of Objective-C’s unique features is its Smalltalk-style messaging, making function calls resemble message passing between objects.

Here’s a simple “Hello, World!” program in Objective-C:

objc

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#import <Foundation/Foundation.h>

int main(int argc, const char * argv[]) {

    @autoreleasepool {

        NSLog(@”Hello, World!”);

    }

    return 0;

}

3. Key Differences Between C and Objective-C

Aspect	C	Objective-C
Paradigm	Procedural programming	Object-oriented programming
Syntax	Simple and direct	Extension of C with messaging syntax
Memory Management	Manual (with malloc and free)	Automatic Reference Counting (ARC)
Use Cases	System programming, embedded systems	macOS and iOS app development
Library Support	Standard C libraries	Foundation and UIKit libraries for macOS/iOS
Inheritance	Not supported	Fully supports inheritance and polymorphism
Runtime	Static runtime	Dynamic runtime

4. Procedural vs. Object-Oriented Programming

Procedural (C): In C, the focus is on creating functions and procedures that perform tasks. You break down a program into a series of steps and instructions, following a structured and linear flow.

Object-Oriented (Objective-C): In Objective-C, the emphasis is on objects—reusable instances that contain both data (properties) and methods (functions). You create classes, inherit properties, and use polymorphism, encapsulation, and abstraction to manage complex systems more efficiently.

Example: Procedural vs. Object-Oriented Style

In C, you might write a function to print a message like this:

c

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void printMessage() {

    printf(“Hello from C!”);

}

int main() {

    printMessage();

    return 0;

}

In Objective-C, you can define a class that performs the same action:

objc

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#import <Foundation/Foundation.h>

@interface Greeter : NSObject

- (void)printMessage;@end

@implementation Greeter

- (void)printMessage {

    NSLog(@”Hello from Objective-C!”);

}@end

int main(int argc, const char * argv[]) {

    @autoreleasepool {

        Greeter *greeter = [[Greeter alloc] init];

        [greeter printMessage];

    }

    return 0;

}

Here, you can see how object-oriented design in Objective-C helps create reusable, modular code by using classes and methods.

5. Memory Management

C: Memory management in C is manual. You allocate memory using malloc() and free it using free(). This gives the programmer full control but also introduces the risk of memory leaks and errors.

Objective-C: Initially, Objective-C used manual reference counting (MRC), but Apple later introduced Automatic Reference Counting (ARC), which automatically manages memory by keeping track of object references. This reduces the chances of memory leaks.

6. Libraries and Frameworks

C: C has standard libraries for file handling, input/output operations, data manipulation, etc. But for modern app development, you would typically need additional libraries or frameworks.

Objective-C: Apple’s frameworks like Cocoa (for macOS) and Cocoa Touch (for iOS) provide powerful libraries for building desktop and mobile applications. These frameworks include components for user interfaces, networking, databases, etc.

7. Which One Should You Learn?

C: If you are interested in system-level programming, embedded systems, or game development, C remains an essential language to learn. It’s also great for gaining a deeper understanding of computer science fundamentals.

Objective-C: If you’re planning to develop macOS or iOS applications, Objective-C was traditionally the go-to language. However, Swift, which was introduced by Apple in 2014, has largely replaced Objective-C in new projects. Still, understanding Objective-C is useful for maintaining legacy projects or working with older codebases.

8. Conclusion: C and Objective-C Serve Different Purposes

While C focuses on low-level procedural programming, Objective-C builds on that foundation with object-oriented features and a more dynamic runtime. If you’re diving into Apple’s development ecosystem, Objective-C (along with Swift) is essential. If you’re exploring system-level programming or want a deep understanding of how computers work, C is a must-learn.

Questions for the Reader:

• Have you ever worked with either C or Objective-C? Which one do you prefer, and why?
• If you’re building an iOS app today, would you use Objective-C or opt for Swift? Why?

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below

Additional learning resources:

C PROGRAMMING QUIZ – Link

C LANGUAGE COMPLETE COURSE – IN HINDI – Link

CYBER SECURITY TUTORIAL SERIES – Link

CODING FACTS SERIES – Link

SKILL DEVELOPMENT SERIES – Link

PYTHON PROGRAMMING QUIZ – Link

CODING INTERVIEW QUIZ – Link

JAVA PROGRAMMING QUIZ – Link