Learn C Programming - Introduction to C Programming | Coding Guru | C - Tutorial #1

 Learn C Programming - Introduction to C Programming

C is a general-purpose, procedural computer programming language supporting structured programming, lexical variable scope, and recursion, with a static type system.

C is a programming language originally developed for developing the Unix operating system. It is a low-level and powerful language, but it lacks many modern and useful constructs. C++ is a newer language, based on C, that adds many more modern programming language features that make it easier to program than C.

 c programming language developed in 1972 by Dennis M. Ritchie at the Bell Telephone Laboratories to develop the UNIX operating system. 

 Introduction to C Programming - Why to Learn C Programming

The c programming language is a MUST for students and working professionals to become a great Software Engineer especially when they are working in Software Development Domain. I will list down some of the key advantages of learning C Programming:

• Easy to learn

• Structured language

• It produces efficient programs

• It can handle low-level activities

• It can be compiled on a variety of computer platforms

• 
  

 Introduction to C Programming - Applications of C Programming

C was initially used for system development work, particularly the programs that make-up the operating system. C was adopted as a system development language because it produces code that runs nearly as fast as the code written in assembly language. Some examples of the use of C are -

• Operating Systems

• Language Compilers

• Assemblers

• Text Editors

• Print Spoolers

• Network Drivers

• Modern Programs

• Databases

• Language Interpreters

• Utilities

• 
  

 Introduction to C Programming - C Program Structure

Before we study the basic building blocks of the C programming language, let us look at a bare minimum C program structure so that we can take it as a reference in the upcoming chapters.

Hello World Example

C program basically consists of the following parts −

• Preprocessor Commands
• Functions
• Variables
• Statements & Expressions
• Comments
• 
  

For Example : 

   #include <stdio.h>

   int main() {

   /* Hello World example program in C */

   printf("Hello, World! \n");

   

   return 0;

}

This Program will print "Hello World".

Clarification :

• The first line of the program #include <stdio.h> is a preprocessor command, which tells a C compiler to include stdio.h file before going to actual compilation.
• 
  The next line int main() is the main function where the program execution begins.
• 
  The next line /*...*/ will be ignored by the compiler and it has been put to add additional comments in the program. So such lines are called comments in the program.
• 
  The next line printf(...) is another function (Output Function) available in C which causes the message "Hello, World!" to be displayed on the screen.
• 
  The next line return 0; terminates the main() function and returns the value 0.