C Programming - Comprehensive Guide with Examples
History and Introduction to C Programming
C is a general-purpose programming language developed by Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs in 1972. It
is known for its efficiency, portability, and flexibility, which makes it widely used in system
programming, embedded systems, and software development. C influenced many modern
programming languages like C++, Java, and Python.
Structure of a C Program:
A typical C program consists of:
1. Preprocessor directives
2. main() function
3. Variable declarations
4. Statements and expressions
5. Functions
Example:
#include<stdio.h>
int main() {
printf("Hello, World!");
return 0;
Compilation and Execution of C Programs
Compilation involves converting the source code into machine code using a compiler.
Steps:
1. Write the code in a .c file.
2. Use a compiler (e.g., GCC) to compile: gcc program.c -o program
3. Execute the binary: ./program
Debugging Techniques:
1. Use a debugger like gdb.
2. Insert print statements to track values.
3. Check for logical errors and memory leaks.
Data Types, Variables, and Modifiers
Data Types:
1. int - Integer (e.g., int age = 25;)
2. float - Floating-point number (e.g., float pi = 3.14;)
3. char - Character (e.g., char grade = 'A';)
4. double - Double precision floating-point number.
Declaration of Variables:
Variables must be declared before use.
Example:
int x;
float y = 5.5;
Modifiers:
Used to change the size or range of a variable (e.g., unsigned, short, long).
