C Struct vs. Class: When Should You Choose Each?

C/C Struct vs Class: Beyond Surface Similarities

Despite the apparent similarities between structs and classes in C , there are fundamental distinctions that set them apart. In C, on the other hand, structs serve a different purpose entirely.

C Struct: A Collection of Data

In C, structs represent aggregate data structures with public visibility. They lack the advanced features of classes, including methods, constructors, and inheritance. A struct serves primarily as a container for related data without any OOP functionality.

C Struct: Class-Like, But Defaulting to Public

In C , structs share many characteristics with classes. The primary difference lies in the default access level for their members. While classes assume private access by default, structs provide public access for all their data. This behavior mimics the public nature of C structs, allowing for seamless migration of existing code.

Why C Needs Classes

Despite the overlap between structs and classes, C 's introduction of classes was essential for the evolution of OOP in the language. Classes offer:

• Encapsulation: Control over data accessibility through access modifiers.
• Method definition: Methods provide behavior to objects.
• Inheritance: Subclassing allows the extension of existing functionality.
• Constructor and destructor: Explicit object initialization and finalization.

These capabilities enable true object-oriented development, supporting code reusability, flexibility, and maintainability.

Conclusion

While structs in C and C share a common name, they serve distinct roles. In C, structs are simply data containers, while in C , they exhibit class-like behavior with public visibility by default. C classes, with their comprehensive OOP features, elevate programming capabilities beyond the limitations of C-style structs, making them an indispensable tool for developing modern and extensible software.

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