Programming Fundamentals Dr.

Shakir Karim Buksh

Objective
Understand the basic structure of a C program, learn how to use an online compiler, and explore
key components like preprocessor directives, the main function, and input/output functions
(printf and scanf) with format specifiers.

Tutorial: Detailed Explanation

Tasks

1. Write a program to print "Hello, World!" to the console.

2. Modify it to print your name and a welcome message (e.g., "Welcome, [Your Name]!").
3. Add comments explaining what each line does.
4. Extend the program to take user input (e.g., your name) and print a personalized message.

Components Explained

1. Preprocessor Directives

What They Are: Preprocessor directives are lines in your code that start with a # symbol. They
are processed by the preprocessor before the actual compilation begins. These directives tell the
compiler to include files, define constants, or perform other setup tasks.

#include <stdio.h>

 #include: This directive instructs the preprocessor to include the contents of a file into
your program.
 <stdio.h>: This is the Standard Input-Output header file, which contains declarations for
functions like printf() and scanf(). Without it, the compiler wouldn’t recognize these
functions.
 How It Works: The preprocessor replaces #include <stdio.h> with the actual code from
the stdio.h file, making its functions available to your program.

Why It’s Important: Preprocessor directives set up the environment for your program.
<stdio.h> is essential because it enables input/output operations.

2. The main Function

What It Is: The main function is the entry point of every C program. When you run your
program, the operating system starts execution here.

Syntax:

int main() {

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// Code goes here

return 0;
}

 int: This specifies that main returns an integer value to the operating system. A return
value of 0 typically means "successful execution," while non-zero values indicate errors.
 main(): The function name, with empty parentheses () indicating it takes no arguments
(though variations like int main(int argc, char *argv[]) exist for command-line
arguments).
 { ... }: Curly braces enclose the body of the function, where your program’s logic lives.
 return 0: This statement ends the main function and sends 0 back to the system, signaling
success.

int main() {
printf("Hello, World!\n");
return 0;
}

 Here, main contains a single printf call and returns 0. It’s the simplest valid C program.

Why It’s Important: Without main, the compiler doesn’t know where to start, and your
program won’t run.

3. The printf Function

What It Is: printf (print formatted) is a function from <stdio.h> that outputs text or data to the
console.

Syntax:

printf("format string", arguments);

 Format String: A string that defines what to print, including placeholders (format
specifiers) for variables.
 Arguments: Optional values to insert into the format string.

printf("Hello, World!\n");

 "Hello, World!\n": The format string. The \n is an escape sequence that adds a newline,
moving the cursor to the next line.
 No arguments are needed here because it’s just static text.

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Extended Example with Variables:

int age = 20;

printf("Age: %d\n", age);

 Age: %d\n: The format string, where %d is a placeholder for an integer.

 age: The variable whose value (20) replaces %d.

Why It’s Important: printf is your primary tool for displaying output, making it essential for
debugging and user interaction.

4. The scanf Function

What It Is: scanf (scan formatted) is a function from <stdio.h> that reads input from the user via
the console.

Syntax:

scanf("format string", &variable);

 Format String: Specifies the type of data to read (using format specifiers).
 &variable: The address of the variable where the input will be stored. The & (address-of
operator) is required for basic types like int, float, and char.

Example:

char name[20];
printf("Enter your name: ");
scanf("%s", name);
printf("Welcome, %s!\n", name);

 "Enter your name: ": Prompts the user.

 scanf("%s", name): Reads a string (no & needed for arrays like name because the array
name is already a pointer).
 "Welcome, %s!\n": Prints the input with %s replaced by the user’s name.

Why It’s Important: scanf enables interactivity by allowing users to provide data to your
program.

5. Format Specifiers

What They Are: Format specifiers are placeholders in printf and scanf that define the type and
format of data to display or read. They start with %.

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Common Format Specifiers:

Specifier Data Type Description Example Output/Input

%d int Decimal integer 42
%f float Floating-point number 3.14
%c char Single character A
%s char[] (string) String of characters Hello
%lf double Double-precision float 3.14159

Usage in printf:

 printf("Age: %d, Height: %.1f\n", 20, 5.9);

o %d: Displays 20.
o %.1f: Displays 5.9 with one decimal place (.1 controls precision).

Usage in scanf:

 scanf("%d", &age);
o Reads an integer into age.

Why They’re Important: Format specifiers ensure data is interpreted correctly, preventing
errors like printing an integer as a float.

Complete Sample Code

#include <stdio.h> // Preprocessor directive to include input/output

functions

int main() { // Main function: program starts here

// Task 1: Print "Hello, World!"
printf("Hello, World!\n"); // printf displays text with a newline

// Task 2: Print a personalized message

printf("Welcome, Alex!\n"); // Static welcome message

// Task 4: Take user input and print dynamically

char name[20]; // Array to store the user's name
printf("Enter your name: "); // Prompt for input
scanf("%s", name); // Read a string into name
printf("Welcome, %s!\n", name); // Display the user's name

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return 0; // End program successfully

}

Key Concepts

 Preprocessor Directives: #include <stdio.h> prepares the program with necessary

functions.
 Main Function: int main() is where execution begins and ends with return 0.
 printf: Outputs formatted text or data (e.g., printf("Text: %d", 123);).
 scanf: Reads user input into variables (e.g., scanf("%s", name);).
 Format Specifiers: %d, %f, %c, %s control how data is displayed or read.

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