The Relationship Between Java, C, and C++

C is a relatively "low level" language. This characterization is not prejorative; it simply means that C deals with the same sort of objects the most computers do, namely characters, numbers, and addresses. These may be combined and moved about with the arithmetic and logical operators implemented on real machines
The C Programming Language
Kernighan and Ritchie

Clearly C++ owes most to C. C is retained as a subset and so is C's emphasis on facilities that are low level enough to cope with the most demanding systems programming tasks.

The C++ programming language is designed to
- be a better C
- support data abstraction
- support object-oriented programming

The C++ Programming Language
Bjarne Stroustrup

Java has adopted wholesale the basic statements of C++, which in turn come directly from C

The Java security model was designed to make consumers feel comfortable running programs that have been downloaded over the Internet. Java Virtual Machine
Jon Meyer and Troy Downing

Some differences between Java and hte other two languages.

• With some exceptions (eg. use of a C++ key word), a valid C program is also a valid C++ program. No such statement can be made of the relationship between Java and C or C++.

• Java does not have a preprocessor - no #defines, #typedefs, macros, etc. We will want to know how to capture the functionality of the # statements

• Java does not have global functions - only class specific methods.

• Java does not support the key words "struct" and "union"

• Java does not support programmer defined operator overloading

• Java does not support direct manipulation of pointers