C vs Python

Both C and Python are very popular, but they are built differently. C is a lower level language that gives you more control and runs very fast, while Python is higher level, shorter to write and easier to read. Below is the same simple code written in both, so the differences are easy to spot.

Hello World

C

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    printf("Hello World\n");
    return 0;
}

Python

print("Hello World")

C needs a header file, a main function and a return statement. Python needs just one line.

Variables

C

int age = 19;
float price = 49.99;
char grade = 'A';

Python

age = 19
price = 49.99
grade = "A"

In C you declare the type. Python works out the type by itself, and it even lets the same variable change type later.

Taking Input

C

int age;
printf("Enter your age: ");
scanf("%d", &age);
printf("You are %d years old\n", age);

Python

age = int(input("Enter your age: "))
print("You are", age, "years old")

No format specifiers (%d, %f) and no & in Python.

If / Else

C

if (marks >= 90) {
    printf("Grade A\n");
} else if (marks >= 60) {
    printf("Grade B\n");
} else {
    printf("Grade C\n");
}

Python

if marks >= 90:
    print("Grade A")
elif marks >= 60:
    print("Grade B")
else:
    print("Grade C")

Python uses a colon and indentation instead of brackets and curly braces, and else if becomes elif.

For Loop

C

for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
    printf("%d\n", i);
}

Python

for i in range(5):
    print(i)

While Loop

C

int i = 1;
while (i <= 3) {
    printf("%d\n", i);
    i++;
}

Python

i = 1
while i <= 3:
    print(i)
    i += 1

Python has no i++, you write i += 1 instead.

Do While Loop

C

int n;
do {
    printf("Enter a positive number: ");
    scanf("%d", &n);
} while (n <= 0);

Python

while True:
    n = int(input("Enter a positive number: "))
    if n > 0:
        break

Functions

C

int add(int a, int b) {
    return a + b;
}

int main() {
    printf("%d\n", add(3, 4));
    return 0;
}

Python

def add(a, b):
    return a + b

print(add(3, 4))

Arrays vs Lists

C

int numbers[5] = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5};
printf("%d\n", numbers[0]);

Python

numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
print(numbers[0])

A C array has a fixed size and holds only one type. A Python list can grow or shrink and can hold mixed types:

numbers.append(6)           # add an item
numbers.remove(2)           # remove an item
mixed = [1, "hello", 3.5]   # different types together

Strings

C

char name[] = "Aryan";
printf("%s\n", name);
printf("%lu\n", strlen(name));

Python

name = "Aryan"
print(name)
print(len(name))

Python strings also come with handy built in tricks:

print(name.upper())      # ARYAN
print(name + " Singh")   # joining strings with +
print(name[0])           # A

Swapping Two Numbers

C

int temp = a;
a = b;
b = temp;

Python

a, b = b, a

Sum of a List of Numbers

C

int nums[5] = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5};
int sum = 0;
for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
    sum += nums[i];
}
printf("%d\n", sum);

Python

nums = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
print(sum(nums))

Side by Side Summary

Feature	C	Python
Type	Compiled	Interpreted
Speed	Very fast	Slower
Semicolons	Required	Not needed
Code blocks	{ } curly braces	Indentation
Variable types	Must be declared	Decided automatically
Format specifiers	%d, %f, %s	Not needed
Do While loop	Built in	Made using while True + break
Arrays	Fixed size, one type	Lists, flexible size and mixed types
Memory management	Manual (pointers, malloc)	Automatic
Libraries	#include <stdio.h>	import math
Best for	Operating systems, embedded systems, speed critical programs	Data science, web, automation, AI, quick scripts

So Which One Should You Use?

Neither is “better”, they are made for different jobs. Learning C helps you understand how a computer actually works (memory, pointers, types), and learning Python lets you build things quickly. Knowing both makes you a stronger programmer, and the concepts you learn in one carry over easily to the other.