CAlike

CAlike is a term used to describe programming languages that resemble C in syntax and often in low-level programming concepts. The label is informal and not tied to a single official specification, but is commonly used to indicate familiarity with C‑style syntax or to group languages inspired by C.

Characteristics of C‑like languages typically include the use of braces to denote blocks and semicolons to terminate statements. They often share control structures such as if, for, while, and switch, and resemble C in how they express functions, operators, and type systems. However, languages described as C‑like differ in memory management, typing discipline, and runtime behavior, which can lead to substantial practical differences.

Common examples of languages considered C‑like or C‑influenced include C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, PHP, Go, Rust, and Swift. The degree of similarity varies: some are direct descendants of C (C++), others are syntactically inspired descendants (Java, JavaScript), and some blend features from multiple paradigms (Go, Rust, Swift).

Notes on usage: the term does not imply mutual compatibility or identical semantics across languages. It is an informal, broad reference used in discussions about learning curves, tooling, or interoperability rather than a precise taxonomy. When evaluating a language for a project, it is important to consider its memory model, type system, safety guarantees, and runtime characteristics in addition to its C‑like syntax.