C, C++, and Java are all programming languages, but they differ in various aspects, including programming paradigms, memory management, portability, and performance. C is a procedural programming language that focuses on structured programming and direct manipulation of memory using pointers. It is fast and efficient, making it ideal for system programming and embedded systems. C++ is an extension of C that introduces object-oriented features, allowing developers to use classes, inheritance, and polymorphism. It supports both procedural and object-oriented programming, offering more flexibility while still allowing direct memory manipulation. Java, on the other hand, is a strictly object-oriented language that eliminates manual memory management by using garbage collection, ensuring safer and more efficient memory use. Unlike C and C++, Java runs on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), making it platform-independent, while C and C++ are compiled directly into machine code, making them dependent on the operating system. Java also lacks explicit pointer manipulation and does not support features like multiple inheritance, which C++ does. While C++ and Java are used for application development, C++ is preferred for high-performance applications such as gaming and system software, whereas Java is widely used for enterprise applications, mobile development, and web-based systems. The choice between these languages depends on the specific requirements of a project, with C offering speed and efficiency, C++ providing object-oriented capabilities alongside performance, and Java ensuring portability and automated memory management.