What is the fundamental difference between C and C++ programming languages?

The fundamental difference between C and C++ lies in the programming paradigms they support. C++ is an extension of C that incorporates object-oriented programming (OOP) capabilities. This allows C++ to support key concepts such as classes, objects, inheritance, encapsulation, and polymorphism. These features enable developers to design applications in a modular and reusable manner, which is especially beneficial for large and complex software projects.

On the other hand, C is a procedural programming language that emphasizes functions and procedure calls. While C is valued for its efficiency and low-level control over system resources, it does not inherently support the same level of abstraction and organization in code structure that OOP provides.

The other options do not accurately define this fundamental difference. For instance, while C++ is widely used in various fields, including embedded systems, it is not exclusively for that purpose. The statement about efficiency does not universally apply, as the performance can depend on specific use cases and implementations. Additionally, the claim that C++ has a simpler syntax than C is not accurate; in fact, C++'s syntax can be more complex due to its added features. Therefore, the option highlighting C++'s support for object-oriented programming is the core distinction between these two languages