C is a procedural programming language that provides low-level access to memory through pointers and is often used for system-level programming like operating systems and embedded systems. It offers fine-grained control over hardware but lacks features like automatic memory management and object-oriented programming.
Java, on the other hand, is an object-oriented programming language designed for portability and ease of use, running on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) to be platform-independent. It abstracts memory management with garbage collection and emphasizes security, robustness, and high-level application development, making it widely used for web, mobile, and enterprise applications.