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Basics of C Language, Study notes of Programming Languages

This document explains the basics of the C programming language, including its features and basic syntax. Students will benefit by gaining a solid foundation in a widely used language crucial for understanding computer science principles and system-level programming. This knowledge enhances problem-solving skills and opens doors to various tech fields.

Typology: Study notes

2023/2024

Available from 04/14/2025

kartikksharma
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Basics of C Language
1. What is the C Language?
The C language is a general-purpose, high-level computer programming language. It was
developed by Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs, USA. C was originally implemented on the DEC
PDP-11 computer in 1972. In 1978, Brian Kernighan and Dennis Ritchie produced "The C
Programming Language," which became the first widely available description of C.
2. Features of the C Language:
Based on the image, some of the key features of the C language include:
* Easy to learn: C has a relatively simple syntax and a small number of keywords, making it
easier for beginners to grasp the fundamental concepts.
* Procedural language: C is a procedural programming language, which means that programs
are organized into a sequence of procedures or functions that perform specific tasks.
* Ability to handle high-level and low-level programming: C provides features that allow
programmers to work at both abstract (high-level) and machine-specific (low-level) levels. This
makes it versatile for various applications.
* Platform independent language: While the compiled executable might be platform-specific,
the C source code can generally be compiled and run on different operating systems with
appropriate compilers.
* Has English-like keywords: C uses keywords that are similar to English words, which makes
the code more readable and understandable.
3. Syntax of the C Language (General Concepts):
* Structure of a C Program: A basic C program typically has the following structure:
#include <stdio.h> // Header file inclusion
int main() {
// Statements and code go here
return 0; // Indicates successful execution
}
* Data Types: C supports various fundamental data types, including:
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Basics of C Language

1. What is the C Language?

The C language is a general-purpose, high-level computer programming language. It was developed by Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs, USA. C was originally implemented on the DEC PDP-11 computer in 1972. In 1978, Brian Kernighan and Dennis Ritchie produced "The C Programming Language," which became the first widely available description of C.

2. Features of the C Language:

Based on the image, some of the key features of the C language include:

  • Easy to learn: C has a relatively simple syntax and a small number of keywords, making it easier for beginners to grasp the fundamental concepts.

  • Procedural language: C is a procedural programming language, which means that programs are organized into a sequence of procedures or functions that perform specific tasks.

  • Ability to handle high-level and low-level programming: C provides features that allow programmers to work at both abstract (high-level) and machine-specific (low-level) levels. This makes it versatile for various applications.

  • Platform independent language: While the compiled executable might be platform-specific, the C source code can generally be compiled and run on different operating systems with appropriate compilers.

  • Has English-like keywords: C uses keywords that are similar to English words, which makes the code more readable and understandable.

3. Syntax of the C Language (General Concepts):

  • Structure of a C Program: A basic C program typically has the following structure:

#include <stdio.h> // Header file inclusion

int main() { // Statements and code go here return 0; // Indicates successful execution }

  • Data Types: C supports various fundamental data types, including:
  • int: For integer numbers (e.g., 10, -5).

  • float: For single-precision floating-point numbers (e.g., 3.14, -2.5).

  • double: For double-precision floating-point numbers (e.g., 3.14159).

  • char: For single characters (e.g., 'a', 'B').

  • void: Represents the absence of a value.

  • Variables: Variables are used to store data. They must be declared with a specific data type before they can be used.

int age; float salary; char initial;

  • Operators: C provides various operators for performing operations:

  • Arithmetic: + (addition), - (subtraction), * (multiplication), / (division), % (modulus).

  • Assignment: = (assign value), +=, -=, *=, /=, %=.

  • Comparison: == (equal to), != (not equal to), > (greater than), < (less than), >= (greater than or equal to), <= (less than or equal to).

  • Logical: && (logical AND), || (logical OR),! (logical NOT).

  • Control Flow Statements: These statements control the order in which code is executed:

  • Conditional statements: if, else, else if.

  • Looping statements: for, while, do-while.

  • Jump statements: break, continue, goto, return.

  • Functions: Functions are blocks of code that perform specific tasks.

They help in organizing code and making it reusable.

int add(int a, int b) { return a + b; }

In summary, C is a powerful and efficient procedural programming language known for its flexibility and ability to interact closely with hardware. While it offers significant control, it also requires careful memory management and lacks the built-in high-level features found in many modern programming languages.