C Example Programs

This document contains numerous example programs to provide a practical aid for learning C programming
language.

Input and Output programs

This program combines printf and scanf whereby printf displays the input from scanf.

#include <stdio.h>

main()
{
int i;
printf("%c\n",scanf("%i",i));
}
This program demonstrates the use of getchar and putchar.

#include <stdio.h>

main()
{
char ch;

printf("Enter some text (type a period to quit)...\n");

do {
ch = getchar();
putchar(ch+1);
} while (ch != '.');

printf("\n\n");

printf("Enter some text (type a period to quit)...\n");

while ( (ch = getchar()) != '.') putchar(ch-1);

printf("\n\n");

Control Loop programs

This section contains example programs demonstrating the loop construction.
Program using char data type and simple for loop:

#include <stdio.h> /* library header */

main()
{
char ch;

for (ch = 'A' ; ch <= 'z' ; ch++) printf("%c\n" , ch);

}
This program demonstrates the while loop.

#include <stdio.h>

main()
{
int lower , upper , step;
float fahr , celsius;

lower = 0 ;
upper = 300;
step = 20 ;

fahr = lower;

while ( fahr <= upper ) {

celsius = (5.0 / 9.0) * (fahr - 32.0);
printf("%4.0f %6.1f\n" , fahr , celsius);
fahr = fahr + step;
}
}
This program uses do-while and for loop constructions and standard library mathematical functions.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <math.h>

main()
{
int i , j , k;
double a=10.0 , b=.0;

do {
printf("%f\n" , pow(a,b)); /* standard function */
b++;
} while (b<100);

i = 2;

for (j=2 ; j<100 ; j=j+2) {

i=i*j ;
printf("%d\n" , i);
}
}

Conditional Execution programs

This section contains example programs demonstrating if else and select statements (also break and
continue statements).
This program demonstrates the if else statement.
#include <stdio.h>

main()
{
int a , b;

printf("Enter two numbers: ");

scanf("%d%d" , &a , &b);

if (b) printf("%d\n" , a/b);

else printf("... cannot divide by zero\n");
}
Another example of if else statement.

#include <stdio>
#include <conio>

main()

{
int a,b;
char ch;
printf("Do you want to: \n");
printf"Add, subtract, Multiply, or Divide?\n");

/* force user to enter valid response */

do {
printf("Enter first letter: ");
ch=getchar();
printf("\n");
} while (ch!='A' && ch!='S' && ch!='M' && ch!='D');
printf("Enter first number: ");
scanf("%d", &a);
printf("Enter second number: ");
scanf("%d", &b);

if (ch=='A') printf("%d", a+b);

else if (ch=='S') printf("%d", a-b);
else if (ch=='M') printf("%d", a*b);
else if (ch=='D' && b!=0) printf("%d", a/b);
}
The switch statement is often used to process menu commands.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <conio.h>

main()
{
int a,b;
char ch;

printf("Do you want to:\n");

printf("Add, Subtract, Multipy, or Divide\n");
/* force user to enter valid response */
do (
 printf("Enter first letter: ");
ch =getchar();
printf("\n");
} while (ch!='A' && ch!='S' && ch!='M' && ch!='D');
printf("Enter first number: ");
scanf("%d", &a);
printf("Enter second number: ");
scanf("%d", &b);

switch (ch) {
case 'A' : printf("%d", a+b);
break;
case 'S' : printf("%d", a-b);
break;
case 'M' : printf("%d", a*b);
break;
case 'D' : if (b!=0) printf("%d", a/b);
break;
}
}
The statement sequence associated with a case may be empty allowing two or more cases to share a common
statement sequence.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <conio.h>

main()
{
char ch;
printf("Enter the letter: ");
ch=getchar();

switch(ch) {
case 'a' :
case 'e' :
case 'i' :
case 'o' :
case 'u' :
printf(" is a vowel \n");
break;
default:
printf(" is a consonant");
}
}
A simple program to show the use of the continue statement.

#include <stdio.h>

main()
{
int x ;

for ( x=0 ; x<=100 ; x++) {

if (x%2) continue; /* using modulus operation */
printf("%d\n" , x);
}
This program jumps out of an infinite loop using the break statement.

#include <stdio.h>

main()
{
int t ;

for ( ; ; ) {
scanf("%d" , &t) ;
if ( t==10 ) break ;
}
printf("End of an infinite loop...\n");

Structure and Nesting programs

This section contains example programs demonstrating nested block structures.
This program uses nested for loop construction.

#include <stdio.h>

main()
{
int i , j;

for (i=2 ; i<1000 ; i++) {

for (j=2 ; j<= i/2 ; j++)
if (!(i%j)) break;
if (j>i/2) printf("%d is a prime\n" , i);
}
}
This example program uses a do-while and nested if else construction.

#include <stdio.h>

main()
{
int a , b;

do {

printf("Enter first number: ");

scanf("%d" , &a);
printf("Enter second number: ");
scanf("%d" , &b);

if (a<b)
printf("First number is less than second\n\n");
if (b<a)
printf("Second number is less than first\n\n");

} while (a < 999);

}
This program uses nested for loop and if else construction.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <conio.h>

main()
{
int answer, count, chances, right;
for (count=1; count<11; count++) {
printf("What is %d + %d?", count, count);
scanf("%d", &answer);
if (answer == count+count) printf("Right!\n");
else {
printf("Sorry, you're wrong \n");
printf("Try again\n");
right = 0;
/* nested for *?
for (chances=0; chances<3 && ! right; chances++){
printf("\nWhat is %d + %d?",count, count);
scanf("%d", &answer);
if (answer == count+count){
printf("Right!\n");
right=1;
}
}
/* if answer still wrong, tell user */
if (!right)
printf("the answer is %d.\n", count+count);
} /* end of else part */
} /* end of outter for loop */
}

Functions and Prototype programs

This section contains example programs to demonstrate the use of functions.
This is a program to demonstrate the use of functions
1. with no parameters
2. with parameters

#include <stdio.h>

main()
{
int number;

prompt(); /*function call no parameters */

scanf( "%d" , &number );

factor(number); /* function call with parameters */

}

prompt() /* function */
{
printf("Input a number... ");
}

factor(int t) /* function */
{
int sum = 1;
int i ;

for (i = 1 ; i <= t ; i++)

sum = sum*i;
printf("Factorial %d is %d\n" , t , sum);
}
Here is a volume computing program using a function prototype.

#include <stdio.h>

/* this is volume()'s prototype */

double volume(double s1, double s2, double s3);

void main()
{
double vol;
vol = volume(12.2, 5.67. 9.03);
printf("Volume: %f", vol);
}

/* compute the volume of a cube. */

double volume(double s1, doublbe s2, double s3)
{
return s1*s2*s3;
}
Recursion when applied to a computer language means that a function can call itself. An example follows:

#include <stdio.h>

void recurse(int i);

void main(void)
{
recurse(0);
}

void recurse(int i)
{
if (i<10) {
recurse(i+1);
printf("%d ",i);
}
}
This program prints
9876543210
on the screen.

Array programs
This section contains example programs demonstrating the use of arrays.
A simple program to demonstrate the definition and use of an array.

#include <stdio.h>

main()
{
int i[10],j;

for ( j=0 ; j<10 ; j++)

i[j] = j ;

for ( j=0 ; j<10 ; j++)

printf("%d\n" , i[j]) ;
}
A program to demonstrate the use of an array.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

main()
{
int i , min_value , max_value ;
int list[10] ;

for ( i=0 ; i<10 ; i++)

list[i] = rand() ;

/* Find the minimum value */

min_value = 32767 ;

for ( i=0 ; i<10 ; i++)

if (list[i]<min_value)
min_value=list[i] ;
printf("Minimum value generated is %d\n" , min_value) ;

/* Find the maximum value */

max_value = 0 ;

for ( i=0 ; i<10 ; i++)

if (list[i]>max_value)
max_value=list[i];
printf("Maximum value generated is %d\n" , max_value) ;

}
This program uses a bubble sort.

#include <stdio.h>
include <stdlib.h>

main()
{
int item[100];
int a,b,t;
int count;
/* read in numbers */
 printf("How many numbers ?");
scanf("%d", &count);
for (a=0;a<count;a++) scanf("%d", &item[a]);

/* now sort using bubble sort */

for (a=1; a<count; a++)
for (b=count-1; b>=a; --b) {
/* compare adjacent elements */
if (item[b-1] > item[b]) {
/* exchange elements */
t= item[b-1];
item[b-1] - item[b];
item[b] = t;
}
}
/* display sorted list */
for (t=0; t<count; t++) printf("%d ", item[t]);
}
An example program using a two-dimensional array now follows.

#include <stdio.h>

main()
{
int twod[4][5];
int i,j;

for(i=0; i<4; i++)

for(j=0; j<5; j++)
twod[i][j] = i*j;

for (i=0; i<4; i++) {

for (j=0; j<5; j++)
printf("%d !, twod[i][j]);
printf("\n");
}
}
The program output looks like this:

00000
01234
02468
036912

Pointer programs
This section contains example programs demonstrating the use of pointers.
An example program using simple pointers.

#include <stdio.h>

main()
{
int balance;
int *address;
 int value;

balance = 5000;

address = &balance;
value = *address;

printf("Balance is : %d\n" , value);

}
Another example using pointers.

#include <stdio.h>

main()
{
int *p , num;

p = &num;

*p = 100;

printf("%d\n" , num);
(*p)++;
printf("%d\n" , num);
(*p)--;
printf("%d\n" , num);

}
An example program demonstrating pointer Arithmetic.

#include <stdio.h>

main()
{
char *c , ch[10];
int *i , j[10];
float *f , g[10];
int x;

c = ch;
i = j;
f = g;

for ( x=0 ; x<10 ; x++ )

printf("%p %p %p\n" , c+x , i+x , f+x);

}
An example program using pointers and arrays.

#include <stdio.h>

main()
{
char str[80];
char token[10];
char *p , *q;
 printf("Enter a sentence: ");
gets(str);

p = str;

while (*p) {
q = token;
while (*p != ' ' && *p) {
*q = *p;
q++ ; p++;
}
if (*p) p++;
*q = '\0';
printf("%s\n" , token);
}
}

String programs
This section contains example programs to demonstrate the use of strings.
A simple string example.

#include <stdio.h>

main()
{
char str[80] ;

printf("Enter a string: ") ;

gets(str) ;
printf("%s" , str);

printf("\n");
}
The follow program requests the input of two strings, then demonstrates the four string functions with them.

#include <string.h>
#include <stdio.h>

main()
{
char str1[80], str2[80];
int i;

printf("Enter the first string: ");

getstr(str1);
printf("Enter the second string: ");
getstr(str2);

/* see how long the strings are */

printf("%s is %d chars long\n", str1, strlen(str1));
printf("%s is %d chars long\n", str2, strlen(str2));

/* compare the strings */

i= strcmp(str1, str2);
 if (!i) printf("The strings are equal.\n");
else if (i<0) printf ("%s is less than %s\n", str1,str2);
else printf("%s is greater than %s\n", str1, str2);

/* concatenate str2 to end of str1 if there is enough room*/

if (strlen(str1)+ strlen(str2) < 80) {
strcat(str1, str2);
printf("%s\n", str1);
}

/* copy str2 to str1 */

strcpy(str1, str1);
printf("%s %s\n", str1, str2);
}

Structure programs
This section contains example programs to demonstrate the use of structures.
This program stores data in a structure and displays the values.

#include <stdio.h>

void main(void)
{
struct s_type {
int i;
int j;
} s;

int i;

i=10;
s.i=100;
s.j=101;

printf("%d %d %d", i, s.i, s.j);

}
The variable i and the structure element i have no relationship to each other.
A function may return a structure to the calling procedure.

#include <stdio.h>

struct s_type {
int i;
double d;
} var1;

struct s-type f(void);

void main(void)
{
var1=f();
printf("%d %1f", var1.i, var1.d);
}
struct s_type f(void)
{
struct s_type temp;

temp.i=100;
temp.d = 123.23;

return temp;
}
This program passes a structure to a function.

#include <stdio.h>

struct s_type {
int i;
double d;
} var1;

void f(struct s_type temp);

void main(void)
{
var1.i=99;
var1.d = 98.6;
f(var1);
}

void f(struct s_type temp)

{
printf("%d %1f", temp.i, temp.d);
}
The following program illustrates how to use a pointer to a structure.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>

strct s_type {
int i;
char str[80];
} s, *p;

void main(void)
{
p= &s;

s.i = 10; /* this is functionally the same */

p ->i=10; /* as this */
strcpy(p->str, "I like structures");

printf("%d %d %s", s.i, p->1, p->str);

}

File Handling programs

This section contains programs demonstrating file handling and command line arguments.
The following program reads a text file and counts how many times each letter from 'A' to 'Z' occurs and displays
the results.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib>
#include <ctype.h>

int count[26];

void main(int argc, char *argv[])

{
FILE *fp;
char ch;
int i;
/* see if file name is specified */
if (argc!=2) {
printf("File name missing");
exit(1);
}

if ((fp= fopen(agv[1], "r")) == NULL) {

printf("cannot open file");
exit(1);
}

while ((ch=fgetchar(fp)) !=EOF) {

ch = toupper(ch);
if (ch>='A' && ch<='Z') count[ch-'A']++;
}

for (i=0; i<26; i++)

printf("%c occurred %d times\n", i+'A', count[i]);

fclose(fp);
}
This program uses command line arguments to read and display the contents of a file supplied as an argument.

#include <stdio.h>

#define CLEARS 12 /* constant */

main(int argc , char *argv[])

{
FILE *fp , *fopen();
int c;

putchar(CLEARS);

while ( --argc > 0 )

if ((fp=fopen(argv[1], "r"))==NULL)
{
printf("I can't open %s\n", argv[1]);
break;
}
else
{
while ((c= getc(fp)) !=EOF)
 putc(c,stdout); /* display to the screen */
fclose(fp);
}
}
This program gives a further example of the use of argc & argv

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

main(int argc , char *argv[])

{
double a , b;

if (argc != 3) {
printf("Usage: add number number ...\n");
exit(1);
}

a = atof(argv[1]);
b = atof(argv[2]);

printf("%lf\n" , a + b);
}

Complex programs combining sections

This example program creates and accesses a simple database.

/**********************************************************/
/* A simple Data Base Program */
/**********************************************************/

# include <stdio.h>
# include <stdlib.h>
# include <string.h>

# define MAX 100 /* constant*/

struct addr { /*struct called list*/

char name[30] ;
char street[40] ;
char town[20] ;
char county[20] ;
char code[10] ;
} list[MAX]; /* 100 records*/

main()
{
int choice;

init_list(); /* initialze the list */

for(;;) {
choice = menu_select(); /* get user's selection*/
switch(choice) {
 case 1: enter(); /* enter a new entry */
break;
case 2: del(); /* delete an entry */
break;
case 3: show_list(); /* display the list */
break;
case 4: search(); /* find an entry */
break;
case 5: save(); /* save to disk */
break;
case 6: load(); /* read from disk */
break;
case 7: exit(0);
}
}
}

/*********************************************************/
/* Function del */
/*********************************************************/
del()
{
int i;
char str[255];

inputs("enter name: " , str , 30);

i = find(str);
if (i>=0) *list[i].name = '\0' ;
else printf("not found\n") ;
}

/**********************************************************/
/* Function display */
/**********************************************************/
display(int i)
{
printf("%s\n" , list[i].name);
printf("%s\n" , list[i].street);
printf("%s\n" , list[i].town);
printf("%s\n" , list[i].county);
printf("%s\n" , list[i].code);
}

/**********************************************************/
/* Function enter */
/**********************************************************/
enter()
{
int i;

for(;;) {
i = find_free(); /* find a free structure */
if(i<0) {
printf("list full\n");
return;
}
 inputs("enter name: ", list[i].name,30); if(!*list[i].name)
break; /* stop entering */
inputs("enter street: ", list[i].street, 40);
inputs("enter town: ", list[i].town, 20);
inputs("enter county: ", list[i].county, 20);
inputs("enter Postal code: ", list[i].code, 10);
}
}

/**********************************************************/
/* Function find */
/**********************************************************/
find(char *name)
{
int i;
for(i=0 ; i<MAX ; i++)
if(!strcmp(name ,list[i].name)) break;
if(i==MAX) return
else return i;
}

/**********************************************************/
/* Function find_free */
/**********************************************************/
find_free()
{
register int i;
for(i=0; i<MAX; i++)
if(!*list[i].name) return i;
return
}

/**********************************************************/
/* Function init_list */
/**********************************************************/
init_list()
{
register int i;
for (i=0 ; i<MAX ; i++)
*list[i].name = '\0'
}

/**********************************************************/
/* Function inputs */
/**********************************************************/
inputs( char *prompt , char *s , int count)
{
char str[255];

do {
printf(prompt);
gets(str);
if(strlen(str) 1; 1; ;>=count) printf("\ntoo long\n");
} while(strlen(str)>=count);

strcpy(s , str);
}
/**********************************************************/
/* Function load */
/**********************************************************/
load()
{
FILE *fp;

if ( (fp=fopen("mlist" , "rb")) == NULL) {

printf("cannot open file\n");
return;
}
printf("\nloading file\n");
fread(list , sizeof list , 1 , fp);
if (ferror(fp))
printf("An error occurred while reading file.\n");
fclose(fp);
}

/**********************************************************/
/* Function menu_select */
/**********************************************************/

menu_select()
{
char s[80];
int c;
printf("1. Enter a name\n") ;
printf("2. Delete a name\n") ;
printf("3. List the File \n");
printf("4. Search\n") ;
printf("5. Save the file\n") ;
printf("6. Load the file\n") ;
printf("7. Quit\n") ;

do {
printf("\nEnter your choice: ");
gets(s);
c = atoi(s);
} while(c<0 || c>7);

return c;
}

/**********************************************************/
/* Function save */
/**********************************************************/
save()
{
FILE *fp;

if ( (fp=fopen("mlist" , "wb")) == NULL) {

printf("cannot open file\n");
return;
}
printf("\nsaving file\n");
fwrite(list , sizeof list , 1 , fp);
 if (ferror(fp))
printf("An error occurred while writing file.\n");
fclose(fp);
}

/**********************************************************/
/* Function search */
/**********************************************************/
search()
{
int i;
char name[30];

inputs("enter name to find: " , name , 30);

if ((i=find(name))<0)
printf("not found\n");
else display(i);
}

/**********************************************************/
/* Function show_list */
/**********************************************************/
show_list()
{
int i;

for(i=0 ; i<MAX ; i++) {

if(*list[i].name) {
display(i);
printf("\n\n");
}
}

printf("\n\n");
}
[program]
The second example program uses functions to play a simple game of tic tac toe.

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

char matrix[3][3];

main()
{
char done;

printf("This is the game of tic tac toe...\n");

printf("You will be playing against the computer.\n") ;

done = ' ';

init_matrix();

do {
disp_matrix();
get_player_move();
 done = check();
if (done != ' ') break;
get_computer_move();
done = check();
} while (done == ' ');

if (done == 'X') printf("\n\nYou won!!!\n");

else printf("I won!!!\n");

disp_matrix();
}

/**********************************************************/
/* fuction to initialise matrix */
/**********************************************************/
init_matrix()
{
int i , j ;

for (i=0 ; i<3 ; i++)

for (j=0 ; j<3 ; j++)
matrix[i][j] = ' ';
}

/**********************************************************/
/* fuction to get players move */
/**********************************************************/
get_player_move()
{
int x , y ;

printf("Enter coordinates of your X: ");

scanf("%d%d" , &x , &y);

x--; y--;

if (matrix[x][y] != ' ') {

printf("Invalid move, try again...\n");
get_player_move();
}
else matrix[x][y] = 'X';
}

/**********************************************************/
/* fuction to get computer move */
/**********************************************************/
get_computer_move()
{
int i , j ;

for (i=0 ; i<3 ; i++) {

for (j=0 ; j<3 ; j++)
if(matrix[i][j]==' ') break;
if (matrix[i][j] == ' ') break;
}
if (i*j == 9) {
printf("draw....\n");
 exit(0);
}
else matrix[i][j] = 'O';
}

/**********************************************************/
/* fuction to display matrix */
/**********************************************************/
disp_matrix()
{
int t ;

printf(" 1 2 3\n");

for (t=0 ; t<3 ; t++) {

printf(" %c | %c | %c %d" , matrix[t][0],
matrix[t][1], matrix[t][2] , t+1);
if (t!=2) printf("\n---|---|---\n");
}
printf("\n");
}

/**********************************************************/
/* fuction to check matrix */
/**********************************************************/
check()
{
int i ;

for (i=0 ; i<3 ; i++)

if(matrix[i][0] == matrix[i][1] && matrix[i][0] == matrix[i][2])
return matrix[i][0];

for (i=0 ; i<3 ; i++)

if(matrix[0][i] == matrix[1][i] && matrix[0][i] == matrix[2][i])
return matrix[0][i];

if(matrix[0][0] == matrix[1][1] && matrix[1][1] == matrix[2][2])

return matrix[0][0];

if(matrix[0][2] == matrix[1][1] && matrix[1][1] == matrix[2][0])

return matrix[0][2];

return ' ';

}