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3 Data Types in C

This document discusses data types in C programming language. It covers fundamental data types like int, char, float, pointers; derived data types like arrays and structures. It explains that a data type defines a set of values and operations on those values. Variables must be declared with a data type and can only be used based on the rules of that type. Structures allow grouping of different data types and the typedef keyword can create synonyms for structure types.

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Karthikeyan Ramajayam
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24 views

3 Data Types in C

This document discusses data types in C programming language. It covers fundamental data types like int, char, float, pointers; derived data types like arrays and structures. It explains that a data type defines a set of values and operations on those values. Variables must be declared with a data type and can only be used based on the rules of that type. Structures allow grouping of different data types and the typedef keyword can create synonyms for structure types.

Uploaded by

Karthikeyan Ramajayam
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Data Types in C

Data Transformation
Programs transform data from one form to another
Input data Output data Stimulus Response

Programming languages store and process data in various ways depending on the type of the data; consequently, all data read, processed, or written by a program must have a type Two distinguishing characteristics of a programming language are the data types it supports and the operations on those data types

A Data Type
A data type is
A set of values AND A set of operations on those values

A data type is used to


Identify the type of a variable when the variable is declared Identify the type of the return value of a function Identify the type of a parameter expected by a function

A Data Type (continued)


When the compiler encounters a declaration for a variable, it sets up a memory location for it An operator used on a variable or variables is legal only if
The operator is defined in that programming language for a variable of that type The variable or variables involved with the operator are of the same or compatible types

Rules for Constructing Identifiers in C


Capital letters A-Z, lowercase letters a-z, digits 09, and the underscore character First character must be a letter or underscore Usually only the first 32 characters are significant There can be no embedded blanks Keywords cannot be used as identifiers Identifiers are case sensitive
Identifiers refer to the names of data types, constants, variables, and functions

Two Classifications of Data Types


Built-in data types
Fundamental data types (int, char, double, float, void, pointer) Derived data types (array, string, structure)

Programmer-defined data types


Structure Union Enumeration

Fundamental Data Types


void used to denote the type with no values
int used to denote an integer type char used to denote a character type float, double used to denote a floating

point type
int *, float *, char * used to denote a

pointer type, which is a memory address type

Uses of Fundamental Data Types


int elevationIndicator; char inputSymbol; float totalCost; int main (void) { double grossProduct; int *temperatureValuePtr; grossProduct = 4567.89; inputSymbol = 'a'; return (0); } // End main

Derived Data Types


Array a finite sequence (or table) of variables of the same data type String an array of character variables Structure a collection of related variables of the same and/or different data types. The structure is called a record and the variables in the record are called members or fields

Uses of Derived Data Types


int elevationTable[20]; char inputSymbols[] = "Hello World"; struct operationsStruct { double heatReading; int temperatureValue; float speedMeter; char actionCode; }; // End struct struct operationsStruct currentOperations;

Records (Structures)
A record permits a programmer to handle a group of variables as one variable The fields (members) of a record can be any builtin or programmer-defined data type A record can have values assigned to and read from it just like the built-in variable types A record can also be passed as an argument to a function and serve as the return value for a function

The typedef Keyword and Records


The typedef keyword can be used to create a synonym for a data type. It is most often used to simplify the naming and use of record types (i.e., structure types).

typedef struct { double heatReading; int temperatureValue; float speedMeter; char actionCode; } operationsRecordType; operationsRecordType operationsRecordType currentOperations; futureOperations;

Basic Operations on Records


currentOperations.speedMeter = 245.6; currentOperations.temperatureValue = 67; currentOperations.actionCode = 'z'; latestReading = currentOperations.heatReading; statusFactor = currentOperations.speedMeter * currentOperations.temperatureValue; futureOperations = currentOperations;

printf("Temp: %d Code: %c\n", futureOperations.temperatureValue, futureOperations.actionCode);

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