Difference between C++ and Prolog

In this article, we will discuss the difference between C++ and Prolog. Before discussing their differences, we must know about C++ and Prolog with its key features.

What is the C++?

C++ is a high-performance general-purpose language developed by Bjarne Stroustrup in 1983, extending the C language to include OOP features. This language is statically typed and then compiled, which means any code written will be translated into machine language before execution. This helps execute the Code at faster rates. C++ is normally used for implementing programs where efficiency is of prime importance. This is because it allows the programmer to have great detail over system resources and memory management. Some examples of such applications include operating systems, game engines, and real-time systems. Its versatility and richness are also strong points because it is popular for resource-constrained applications and when driving complex software systems.

Key features of C++:

C++ has many powerful features that give it the character of versatility for use in system programming and software.

• Object-Oriented Programming (OOP): One of the most famous features of C++ is its support for Object-Oriented Programming (OOP), in which developers build models based on real-life things. C++ allows data and methods to be encapsulated into objects through encapsulation. Therefore, the developer can handle complexity by gaining control over the access of object internals. Inheritance enables new classes to inherit properties and behavior from existing classes, and this promotes code reusability, which in turn reduces redundancy. Polymorphism enables uniform treatment of objects of different classes. Hence, flexibility is implemented as runtime dynamic behavior.
• Low-Level Memory Manipulation: C++ gives the programmer obvious possibilities of explicit memory management by using pointers and dynamic allocation/deallocation, such as performed via new and delete operations, correspondingly. As C++ allows for low-level control over memory, the door is opened for very efficient and optimized programs, including in performance-critical applications like game engines or even embedded systems. This flexibility has its flip side, and our responsibility is to manage with great care to avoid memory leaks and segmentation faults.
• Generic Programming: Templates in C++ are a language feature that supports generic programming. It allows developers to write functions and classes that can work with many data types. For instance, a single function template may operate on both integers and floating-point numbers without code duplication, making Code more reusable and flexible.
• Standard Template Library (STL): One of the most powerful components of C++ is the Standard Template Library. It comes with a set of ready-to-use data structures for the programmer, including vectors, lists, maps, and sets, along with algorithms for searching, sorting, and manipulating data. Most efficiently, STL promotes the modularity and reusability of Code, hence raising the productivity of C++ programming.
• All these make C++ exceptionally efficient, flexible, and powerful for a wide range of programming requirements.

Program:

Output:

 
Hello, World!   

What is the Overview?

Prolog (short for "Programming in Logic") is a high-level declarative programming language developed in the early 1970s by Alain Colmerauer and Robert Kowalski. It is based on formal logic, specifically first-order predicate logic, which sets it apart from traditional procedural or imperative languages like C++ or Java. Prolog is a logic programming language that emphasizes the "what" rather than the "how" of problem-solving, making it particularly well-suited for tasks that require symbolic reasoning, knowledge representation, and artificial intelligence (AI) applications.

In a Prolog program, developers define facts, rules, and queries to describe relationships and derive conclusions. The language's execution mechanism relies on logical inference to evaluate queries based on these facts and rules.

Key Features of Prolog

Several key features of Prolog are as follows:

1. Logical Paradigm

Prolog is built around declarative programming, where programmers describe a problem using facts and rules without explicitly coding the steps to solve it. Prolog programs define the problem and let the Prolog inference engine determine how to find a solution.

Facts: These describe the relationships or attributes that are always true. For example:

This fact means Mary likes pizza.

Rules: Rules describe more complex relationships that depend on conditions. They are defined with a head and a body, using:- to mean "if". For example:

This rule states that anyone who likes pizza also likes food.

Queries: Queries are questions asked about the defined facts and rules. For instance:

This query asks what Mary likes, and Prolog will deduce the answer based on the facts and rules.

2. Backtracking and Pattern Matching

Prolog's underlying mechanism for solving problems is backtracking. When a query is made, Prolog searches through facts and rules, which attempts to match patterns (unification) that satisfy the query. If it encounters a dead end or a wrong path, it automatically backtracks to explore alternative solutions.

For example, given multiple rules, Prolog will try each one in sequence. If the first rule fails, it will backtrack and try the next until it either finds a match or exhausts all possibilities.

3. AI and Natural Language Processing

Due to its logical structure, Prolog has been a foundational language for artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP). It has the ability to represent knowledge because facts and rules makes it ideal for expert systems, automated reasoning, and solving complex logical problems.

In AI, Prolog is commonly used for tasks like:

Knowledge Representation: Prolog excels in modeling relationships, constraints, and hierarchies in a domain.

Inference Engines: Prolog's rule-based approach is highly effective for building systems that need to draw conclusions or make decisions based on known information.

Natural Language Processing: Due to its symbolic reasoning capabilities, Prolog can handle tasks like parsing and understanding human language, making it useful in chatbot development or language translation systems.

Program:

Let us take an example to illustrate the working of Prolog.

Output:

 
What does Mary like?
pizza
Who likes ice cream?
mary
Does John like any food?
Yes, John likes food.   

Key Differences between C++ and Prolog

There are several key differences between C++ and Prolog. Some main differences are as follows: