Constants, Variables,

and Data Types

10/27/2020
Characterset
• Letters
• A…Z
• a..z
• Digits
• 0…9
• Special characters
• ,.:;&*-|/\%(){}[]^+’~”<>#@
• White spaces
• Blank space, horizontal tab, carriage return, new line, form feed

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

Token
• The tokens of a language are the basic building
blocks that can be put together to construct
programs.
• A token can be
• a reserved word (such as int or while),
• an identifier (such as b or sum),
• a literal (such as 25 or "Alice in Wonderland"),
• a delimiter (such as } or ;) or an operator (such as + or
=).

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

Keywords

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

Identifiers
• The C programmer needs to make up names for
things such as variables, function names, and
symbolic constants.

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

Rules for Identifiers

Variable Names
• Names may contain letters, digits and underscores
• The first character of a variable name must be a letter or an underscore.
• the underscore can be used but don’t do.

• No special symbols are allowed other than underscore.

• Case matters!
• C keywords cannot
present, be y2x3,
hello, be used as...variable names.
r2d3, /* OK */
_1993_tar_return /* OK but don’t */
Hello#there /* illegal */
double /* shouldn’t work */
2fartogo /* illegal */
Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020
Suggestions for naming Identifiers

Suggestions regarding naming identifiers

• DO: use variable names that are descriptive
• DO: adopt and stick to a standard naming convention
• sometimes it is useful to do this consistently for the entire software
development site

• AVOID: variable names starting with an underscore

• often used by the operating system and easy to miss
• AVOID: using uppercase only variable names
• generally these are pre-processor macros (later)

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

Variable
• C variable is a named location in a memory where a
program can manipulate the data.
• The value of the variable is stored in this memory
location.
• The value of the C variable may get change in the
program.
• C variable might be belonging to any of the data type like
int, float, char etc

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

Constant
• Constants refer to fixed values that the program may not
alter during its execution.
• These fixed values are also called literals.
• A literal is data whose values are determined by the
literal itself.
• Constants can be of any of the basic data types like an
integer constant, a floating constant, a
character constant, or a string literal.
• const int a =3;
• Changing value of constant is an error.

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

• The characteristic of the numeric value which determines
its kind, range, and application, is called the type.
• Integers
• Whenever we use a term like two and a half or minus zero
point four, we think of numbers which the computer
considers floating-point numbers:

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

Character arithmetic
• // C program to demonstrate character arithmetic.
• #include <stdio.h>

• int main()
• {
• char ch1 = 120, ch2 = 10;
• ch1 = ch1 + ch2;
• printf("%d\n", ch1);
• printf("%c\n", ch1 - ch2 - 4);
ch1=65;
printf(“%c”,ch1);
printf(“%c”,char(ch1+32));
• return 0;
• }
Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020
#define
• #define is a preprocessor directive.
• Things defined by #define are replaced by the preprocessor
before compilation begins.
• The big advantage of const over #define is type checking.
• #include<stdio.h>
#define val 10
#define floatVal 4.5
#define charVal 'G'

int main()
{
printf("Integer Constant: %d\n",val);
printf("Floating point Constant: %.1f\n",floatVal);
printf("Character Constant: %c\n",charVal);

return 0;
}
Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020
Tokens in C

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

C Basic Data Types

• Data types constitute the semantics and

characteristics of storage of data elements.
• There are only a few basic data types in C
• char: a single byte, capable of holding one
character
• int: an integer of fixed length, typically
reflecting the natural size of integers on the host
machine (i.e., 32 or 64 bits)
• float: single-precision floating point
• double: double precision floating point
Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020
C Basic Types – Cont.

• There are a number of qualifiers which can be applied to the basic types
• length of data
• short int: "shorter" int, <= number of bits in an int
can also just write "short"
• long int: "longer int", >= number of bits in an int
often the same number of bits as an int
can also just write "long"
• long double generally extended precision floating point
• signed and unsigned
• unsigned int an int type with no sign
if int has 32-bits, range from 0..2 32-1
also works with long and short
• unsigned char a number from 0 to 255
• signed char a number from –128 to 127 (8-bit signed value)

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

C Basic Types – Cont.

• All types have a fixed size associated with them

• this size can be determined at compile time
• Example storage requirements
DATA Bytes Required

The letter x (char) 1

The number 100 (int) 4
The number 120.145 (double) 8

• These numbers are highly variable between C compilers and computer architectures.
• Programs that rely on these figures must be very careful to make their code portable (ie. Try
not to avoid relying on the size of the predefined types)

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

C Basic Types – Cont.

Numeric Variable Types

• Integer Types:
• Generally 32-bits or 64-bits in length
• Suppose an int has b-bits
• a signed int is in range -2b-1..2b-1-1
• -32768 .. 32767 (32767+1=-32768)
• an unsigned int is in range 0..2b-1
• 0 .. 65535 (65535+1=0)
• no error message is given on this "overflow"
• Floating-point Types:
• Generally IEEE 754 floating point numbers
• float (IEEE single): 8 bits exponent, 1-bit sign, 23 bits mantissa
• double (IEEE double): 10 bits exponent, 1-bit sign, 53 bits mantissa
• long double (IEEE extended)
• Only use floating point types when really required
• they do a lot of rounding which must be understood well
• floating point operations tend to cost more than integer operations

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

C Basic Types – Cont.
A typical 32-bit machine

Type Keyword Bytes Range

character char 1 -128...127
integer int 4 -2,147,483,648...2,147,438,647
short integer short 2 -32768...32367
long integer long 4 -2,147,483,648...2,147,438,647
long long integer long long 8 -9223372036854775808 …
9223372036854775807
unsigned character unsigned char 1 0...255
unsigned integer unsigned int 2 0...4,294,967,295
unsigned short integer unsigned short 2 0...65535
unsigned long integer unsigned long 4 0...4,294,967,295
single-precision float 4 1.2E-38...3.4E38
double-precision double 8 2.2E-308...1.8E308
Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020
Declaraing & Initializing Variable

•Variables should be declared in the C program before to use.

•Memory space is not allocated for a variable while declaration. It
happens only on variable definition.
•Variable initialization means assigning a value to the variable.
Type Syntax Examples
Variable data_type int x;
declaration variable_name; int y, z; char flat, ch;
int x = 50;
Variable data_type
Int y=40, z = 30; char
initialization variable_name = value;
flag = ‘x’, ch=’l’;
Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020
 Basic Types and
Formatted I/O

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

Formatted Printing with printf

• The printf function is used to output information (both data from

variables and text) to standard output.
• A C library function in the <stdio.h> library.
• Takes a format string and parameters for output.
• printf(format string, arg1, arg2, …);
• e.g. printf("The result is %d and %d\n", a, b);
• The format string contains:
• Literal text: is printed as is without variation
• Escaped sequences: special characters preceeded by \
• Conversion specifiers: % followed by a single character
• Indicates (usually) that a variable is to be printed at this location in the output stream.
• The variables to be printed must appear in the parameters to printf following the format
string, in the order that they appear in the format string.

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

Formatted Printing with printf – Cont.

Specifier Meaning • There must be one

%c Single character conversion specifier for
%d Signed decimal integer each argument being
printed out.
%x Hexadecimal number
%f Decimal floating point number
• Ensure you use the correct
specifier for the type of
%e Floating point in “scientific notation” data you are printing.
%s Character string (more on this later)
%u Unsigned decimal integer
%% Just print a % sign

%ld, %lld long, and long long

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

Formatted Printing with printf (4)

• An example use of printf

#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
int ten=10,x=42;
char ch1='o', ch2='f';
printf("%d%% %c%c %d is %f\n",
ten,ch1,ch2,x, 1.0*x / ten );
return 0; Why do we need to do this?
} We will talk about a better way later.
(Type conversion)
• What is the output?

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

Reading Numeric Data with scanf (1)

• The scanf function is the input equivalent of printf

• A C library function in the <stdio.h> library
• Takes a format string and parameters, much like printf
• The format string specifiers are nearly the same as those used in printf
• Examples:
scanf ("%d", &x); /* reads a decimal integer */
scanf ("%f", &rate); /* reads a floating point value */
• The ampersand (&) is used to get the “address” of the variable
• All the C function parameters are “passed by value”.
• If we used scanf("%d",x) instead, the value of x is passed. As a
result, scanf will not know where to put the number it reads.

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

Reading Numeric Data with scanf (2)

• Reading more than one variable at a time:

• For example:
int n1, n2; float f;
scanf("%d%d%f",&n1,&n2,&f);
• Use white spaces to separate numbers when input.
5 10 20.3
• In the format string:
• You can use other characters to separate the numbers
scanf("value=%d,ratio=%f", &value,&ratio);
• You must provide input like:
value=27,ratio=0.8
• scanf returns an int
• If end-of-file was reached, it returns EOF, a constant defined in <stdio.h>
• Otherwise, it returns the number of input values correctly read from standard input.

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

Reading Numeric Data with scanf (3)

• One tricky point:

• If you are reading into a long or a double, you must precede the
conversion specifier with an l (a lower case L)
• Example:
int main() {
int x;
long y;
float a;
double b;
scanf("%d %ld %f %lf", &x, &y, &a, &b);
return 0;
}

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

Type Conversion

• C allows for conversions between the basic types, implicitly or explicitly.

• Explicit conversion uses the cast operator.
• Example 1:
int x=10;
float y,z=3.14;
y=(float) x; /* y=10.0 */
x=(int) z; /* x=3 */
x=(int) (-z); /* x=-3 -- rounded approaching zero */
• Example 2:
int i;
short int j=1000;
i=j*j; /* wrong!!! */
i=(int)j * (int)j; /* correct */

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

Implicit Conversion
• If the compiler expects one type at a position, but another
type is provided, then implicit conversion occurs.
• Conversion during assignments:
char c='a';
int i;
i=c; /* i is assigned the ASCII code of ‘a’ */
• Arithmetic conversion – if two operands of a binary
operator are not the same type, implicit conversion occurs:
int i=5 , j=1;
float x=1.0 , y;
y = x / i; /* y = 1.0 / 5.0 */
y = j / i; /* y = 1 / 5 so y = 0 */
y = (float) j / i; /* y = 1.0 / 5 */
/* The cast operator has a higher precedence */
Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020
Example

The sizeof() function returns the number of bytes in a data type.

int main() {
printf("Size of char ......... = %2d byte(s)\n", sizeof(char));
printf("Size of short ........ = %2d byte(s)\n", sizeof(short));
printf("Size of int ........... = %2d byte(s)\n", sizeof(int));
printf(“Size of long long …… = %2d byte(s)\n”, sizeof(long long));
printf("Size of long ......... = %2d byte(s)\n", sizeof(long));
printf("Size of unsigned char. = %2d byte(s)\n", sizeof (unsigned char));
printf("Size of unsigned int.. = %2d byte(s)\n", sizeof (unsigned int));
printf("Size of unsigned short = %2d byte(s)\n", sizeof (unsigned short));
printf("Size of unsigned long. = %2d byte(s)\n", sizeof (unsigned long));
printf("Size of float ........ = %2d byte(s)\n", sizeof(float));
printf("Size of double ....... = %2d byte(s)\n", sizeof(double));
printf("Size of long double .. = %2d byte(s)\n", sizeof(long double));
return 0;
}

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

Example

Results of a previous run of this code on obelix ...

Size of char = 1 byte(s)

Size of short = 2 byte(s)
Size of int = 4 byte(s)
Size of long = 4 byte(s)
Size of long long = 8 byte(s)
Size of unsigned char = 1 byte(s)
Size of unsigned int = 4 byte(s)
Size of unsigned short = 2 byte(s)
Size of unsigned long = 4 byte(s)
Size of float = 4 byte(s)
Size of double = 8 byte(s)
Size of long double =16 byte(s)

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

Creating Simple Types

• typedef creates a new name for an existing type

• Allows you to create a new name for a complex old name
• Generic syntax
typedef oldtype newtype;
• Examples:
typedef long int32; /* suppose we know an int has 32-bits */
typedef unsigned char byte; /* create a byte type */
typedef long double extended;

• These are often used with complex data types

• Simplifies syntax!

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

Variable Declaration (1)

• Generic Form
typename varname1, varname2, ...;
• Examples:
int count;
float a;
double percent, total;
unsigned char x,y,z;
long int aLongInt;
long AnotherLongInt
unsigned long a_1, a_2, a_3;
unsigned long int b_1, b_2, b_3;
typedef long int32;
int32 n;
• Where declarations appear affects their scope and visibility
• Rules are similar to those in Java
• Declaration outside of any function are for global variables
• e.g., just before the main routine

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

Variable Declaration (2)

Initialization
• ALWAYS initialize a variable before using it
• Failure to do so in C is asking for trouble
• The value of an uninitialized variables is undefined in the C standards
• Examples:
int count; /* Set aside storage space for count */
count = 0; /* Store 0 in count */
• This can be done at definition:
int count = 0;
double percent = 10.0, rate = 0.56;
• Warning: be careful about “out of range errors”
unsigned int value = -2500;
• The C compiler does not detect this as an error
• What do you suspect it does?

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

Constants (1)

Constants
Note: simple computed
• You can also declare variables as being constants
values are allowed
• Use the const qualifier: • must be able to evaluate
const double pi=3.1415926; at compile time
const int maxlength=2356;
const int val=(3*7+6)*5;
• Constants are useful for a number of reasons
• Tells the reader of the code that a value does not change
• Makes reading large pieces of code easier
• Tells the compiler that a value does not change
• The compiler can potentially compile faster code

• Use constants whenever appropriate

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

Constants – Cont.

Preprocessor Constants
• These are an older form of constant which you still see
• There is a potential for problems, so be careful using them!
• Generic Form:
#define CONSTNAME literal
• Generally make pre-processor constants all upper case (convention).
• Example:
#define PI 3.14159
• What really happens
• The C preprocessor runs before the compiler.
• Every time it sees the token PI, it substitutes the value 3.14159.
• The compiler is then run with this “pre-processed” C code.
• Why this is dangerous?
• Hard to determine the value of a multiply-defined constant (which you are allowed to create)

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

Constants – Cont.

• An example of constants in use:

#include <stdio.h>
#define GRAMS_PER_POUND 454
const int FARFARAWAY = 3000;
int main ()
{
int weight_in_grams, weight_in_pounds;
int year_of_birth, age_in_3000;
printf ("Enter your weight in pounds: ");
scanf ("%d", &weight_in_pounds);
printf ("Enter your year of birth: ");
scanf ("%d", &year_of_birth);
weight_in_grams = weight_in_pounds * GRAMS_PER_POUND;
age_in_3000 = FARFARAWAY - year_of_birth;
printf ("Your weight in grams = %d\n", weight_in_grams);
printf ("In 3000 you will be %d years old\n", age_in_3000);
return 0;
}
Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020
Literals in C
• Literals are representations of values of some types
• C allows literal values for integer, character, and floating point types
• Integer literals
• Just write the integer in base 10
int y=-46;
• We will discuss base 8 and base 16 literals later
• Character literals
• Character literals are specified with a single character in single quotes
char ch='a';
• Special characters are specified with escape characters
• Recall the discussion of ‘escaped’ characters with the shell
• We will discuss these later
• Floating point literals
• Just write the floating point number
float PI=3.14159;
• Can also use mantissa/exponent (scientific) notation
double minusPItimes100 = -3.14159e2
Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020
Basic Operators
• Needs c operators
• +, -, *, /, //, %, **

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

Calculating average of 3 numbers

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

Convert weight kg into pounds
• 1 kilogram (kg) is equal to 2.20462262185

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

Convert feet into inches
• 12 inches in 1 foot.
• To convert from feet to inches, multiply your figure by 12
(or divide by 0.083333333333333)

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

Convert temperature Fahrenheit into
Celcius and vice-versa
• (0°C × 9/5) + 32 = 32°F

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

Claculate Area of Circle of the given
radius

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

Overflow and Underflow of Data
• The situation where an integer outside the allowed range
requires more bits than can be stored is called an overflow
• Similarly, with real numbers, an exponent that is too small
to be stored causes an underflow.

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

Overflow and Underflow -- Example
• #include<stdio.h>
• #include<limits.h> //for INT_MAX
• #include<float.h> //for FLT_MIN
• int main(){
• printf("%d\n",INT_MAX);
• printf("%d\n",INT_MAX+100);//overflow
• printf("%ef\n",FLT_MIN);
• printf("%ef",FLT_MIN/1000);//underflow
• return 0;
• }
Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020
Scanf()
• "%s" will read the input until whitespace is reached.
• scanf(" %[^\t\n]s",&str);

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020

Types of Programming Errors
• We distinguish between the following types of errors:
1. Syntax errors: errors due to the fact that the syntax of the language is not respected.
e.g., inta a;
2. Semantic errors: errors due to an improper use of program statements.
e.g., int a = “hello”;
3. Logical errors: errors due to the fact that the specification is not respected.
e.g., for adding two variables a and b, you use a – b;
• From the point of view of when errors are detected, we distinguish:
1. Compile time errors: syntax errors and static semantic errors indicated by the
compiler.
2. Runtime errors: dynamic semantic errors, and logical errors, that cannot be detected
by the compiler (debugging).

Dr. Muhammad Aun Abbas 10/27/2020