I am using Darktable at the moment, but I think the question is more general than that. I see a similar question about 9 years ago by IanB but the links in the answers don't work anymore.
So, manipulating the image using exposure/black levels, is very similar, but not quite the same, as using brightness/contrast. I am preferring to use exp/black these days, but I realise I really don't know the difference. I know that combining exp/black adjustments with the shadow/highlight tool adjustments, gets me there for nearly any image. I don't end up using brightness/contrast hardly at all.