Tutorial Playlist
132 Lessons1. Introduction to C Tutorial
2. Addition of Two Numbers in C
3. Anagram Program in C
4. Armstrong Number in C
5. Array in C
6. Array of Pointers in C
7. Array of Structure in C
8. C Program to Find ASCII Value of a Character
9. Assignment Operator in C
10. Binary Search in C
11. Binary to Decimal in C
12. Bitwise Operators in C
13. Boolean in C
14. C Compiler for Mac
15. C Compiler for Windows
16. C Function Call Stack
17. C Language Download
18. Operators in C
19. C/C++ Preprocessors
20. C Program for Bubble Sort
21. C Program for Factorial
22. C Program for Prime Numbers
23. C Program for String Palindrome
24. C Program to Reverse a Number
25. Reverse a String in C
26. C string declaration
27. String Input Output Functions in C
28. Calculator Program in C
29. Call by Value and Call by Reference in C
30. Ceil Function in C
31. Coding Vs. Programming
32. Command Line Arguments in C/C++
33. Comments in C
34. Compilation process in C
35. Conditional Statements in C
36. Conditional operator in the C
37. Constant Pointer in C
38. Constants in C
39. Dangling Pointer in C
40. Data Structures in C
41. Data Types in C
42. Debugging C Program
43. Convert Decimal to Binary in C
44. Define And include in C
45. Difference Between Arguments And Parameters
46. Difference Between Compiler and Interpreter
47. Difference Between If Else and Switch
48. Do While Loop In C
49. Double In C
50. Dynamic Array in C
51. Dynamic Memory Allocation in C
52. Enumeration (or enum) in C
53. Evaluation of Arithmetic Expression
54. Factorial of A Number in C
55. Features of C Language
56. Fibonacci Series Program in C Using Recursion
57. File Handling in C
58. For Loop in C
59. Format Specifiers in C
60. Functions in C
61. Function Pointer in C
62. goto statement in C
63. C Hello World Program
64. Header Files in C
65. Heap Sort in C Program
66. Hello World Program in C
67. History of C Language
Now Reading
68. How to compile a C program in Linux
69. How to Find a Leap Year Using C Programming
70. Identifiers in C
71. If Else Statement in C
72. If Statement in C
73. Implementation of Queue Using Linked List
74. Increment and decrement operators in c
75. Input and Output Functions in C
76. How To Install C Language In Mac
77. Jump Statements in C
78. Lcm of Two Numbers in C
79. Length of an Array in C
80. Library Function in C
81. Linked list in C
82. Logical Operators in C
83. Macros in C
84. Matrix multiplication in C
85. Nested if else statement in C
86. Nested Loop in C
87. One Dimensional Array in C
88. Operator Precedence and Associativity in C
89. Overflow And Underflow in C
90. Palindrome Program in C
91. Pattern Programs in C
92. Pointer to Pointer in C
93. Pointers in C: A Comprehensive Tutorial
94. Pre-increment And Post-increment
95. Prime Number Program in C
96. Program for Linear Search in C
97. Pseudo-Code In C
98. Random Access Files in C
99. Random Number Generator in C
100. Recursion in C
101. Relational Operators in C
102. Simple interest program in C
103. Square Root in C
104. Stack in C
105. Stack Using Linked List in C
106. Static function in C
107. Stdio.h in C
108. Storage Classes in C
109. strcat() in C
110. Strcmp in C
111. Strcpy in C
112. String Comparison in C
113. String Functions in C
114. String Length in C
115. String Pointer in C
116. strlen() in C
117. Structures in C
118. Structure of C Program
119. Switch Case in C
120. C Ternary Operator
121. Tokens in C
122. Toupper Function in C
123. Transpose of a Matrix in C
124. Two Dimensional Array in C
125. Type Casting in C
126. Types of Error in C
127. Unary Operator in C
128. Use of C Language
129. User Defined Functions in C
130. What is Variables in C
131. Is C language case sensitive
132. Fibonacci Series in C
C is one of the most efficient programming languages used to develop operating systems. It has many features that make C language easy to operate, even for beginners. It is mostly used in making software systems, application software and embedded system.
The language was developed as a system implementation language in the early 1970s, which evolved from the typeless language BCPL. However, before learning about C language in depth, it is crucial to understand the background of C along with some important history associated with it.
Let us take you through the history of C language and a brief timeline of C language. We will also discuss some of the best online language compilers for developers.
C is a high-level programming language created in the early 1970s under the gudiance of Dennis Ritchie. Since then, it has become one of the most prominently used and influential programming languages globally. Known for its simplicity, efficiency, and versatility, C has been utilised for various applications, and its popularity can be attributed to its powerful features, such as low-level memory access, a rich set of operators, and a modular structure.
C's portability allows it to run on various hardware platforms and operating systems. As a foundational language, C has influenced the development of numerous other programming languages and continues to be widely used in academic and industrial settings. Its relevance and widespread adoption make C an essential language for aspiring programmers.
The father of programming languages is ‘ALGOL’, first introduced in 1960. ALGOL (Algorith Language) was initially used significantly in European countries, and it introduced the concept of structured programming to the people. In 1967, a new programming language came into force called ‘BCPL’, meaning Basic Combined Programming Language.
BCPL was designed and developed as a general-purpose programming language by Martin Richards. After three years, another programming language was introduced in 1970 by Ken Thompson. It was known as ‘B’, which combined various features of ‘BCPL”. It was created using the UNIX operating system at AT&T and Bell Laboratories.
In 1972, Dennis Ritchie and Ken Thomspon developed a new programming language called ‘C’ at the Bell Laboratories, created from ‘ALGOL’, ‘BCPL’, and ‘B’. ‘C’ contains all these languages and much more, making it unique from the other programming languages. It is a powerful language which is associated with UNIX.
Initially, ‘C’ was limited to UNIX OS, but it gradually spread worldwide, and many compilers were released for cross-platform systems.
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) introduced voluntary standardization for C in 1989 to establish a standard for the language and ensure its consistency. Subsequently, this standard was approved by the International Standards Organization (ISO) in 1990, leading to the language being commonly referred to as "ANSI C". These standardisation efforts aimed to provide a stable foundation for C and facilitate its widespread adoption and compatibility across different environments.
The C language was intended to build the foundation for the creation of UNIX. In early 1973, parts of ultramodern C had been completed, and the language and compiler were robust enough to rewrite the UNIX kernel in C for the PDP-11. The C language finally came into existence under the guidance of Dennis Ritchie between this period of 1969-1973, serving as a reference for language till the formal standard was established in the history of C language.
Between 1973 and 1980, the C language underwent minor changes, including adding unsigned, long, union, and numerous types and enhancing structures. In 1983, the X3J11 committee, led by CBEMA, was formed to create a C standard. The committee's report, published in 1989 and known as ANSI 89, was later adopted by ISO as ISO/IEC 9899-1990.
Language | Developer | Year of Development |
ALGOL | International Group | 1960 |
BCPL | Martin Richards | 1967 |
B | Ken Thompson | 1970 |
Traditional C | Dennis Ritchie | 1972 |
K&R C | Kernighan and Ritchie | 1978 |
ANSI C | ANSI Committee | 1989 |
ANSI/ISO C | ISO Committee | 1990 |
C99 | Standardization Committee | 1999 |
While B had its strengths, it also faced several challenges and limitations. One of the major issues with B was its lack of data typing. Variables in B were not explicitly defined, leading to potential errors and difficulties in understanding the program's intended usage. B had limited support for structured programming constructs, making writing large and complex programs challenging.
Another drawback was its inefficient implementation, as B programs relied heavily on interpreting and translating the source code during runtime, resulting in slower execution speeds than compiled languages.
These limitations and shortcomings of B led to the subsequent development of the C programming language, which introduced stronger typing, enhanced syntax, and improved performance, making it a more robust and widely adopted programming language.
In 1983, the X3J11 committee was formed by ANSI to standardize the C programming language. The resulting standard, ANSI X3.159-1989, was ratified in 1989 and published in 1990. It was later superseded by ISO/IEC 9899:1990, establishing it as an international standard.
Updates and corrigenda have been made since then, with the current standard being ISO/IEC 9899:2018, commonly called C18. The titles "ANSI C" and "ISO C" are informally used to recognise the efforts of the standards community in unifying the language over the past thirty years.
Since computers operate using binary code consisting of 1s and 0s, it is necessary to translate our human-readable language into machine-understandable instructions. In the context of the C programming language, this translation occurs through the process of compilation.
When you write your code in C, it is transformed into an executable file. The C compiler then processes this file, which converts the entire code into machine code. This machine code is the low-level instructions the computer's processor can directly understand and execute during runtime.
Here is an example of the basics of C programming language:
#include <stdio.h> |
This code example provides insights into how a C program operates:
This is the fundamental demonstration of C’s power. We also use conditionals, control statements, and data structures for higher-level programming.
Below are the basic commands in C programming language:
C Basic Commands | Explanation |
#include<stdio.h> | Before compiling a C program, the command "include stdio.h" is used to incorporate the standard input/output header file from the C library. |
int main() | The main function serves as the starting point for the execution of a C program. |
{ | It indicates the beginning of the main function |
/*_some_comments_*/ | Any content written within a C program's "/* */" command is disregarded during the compilation and execution processes. |
printf(“Hello_World!”); | It prints the output on the screen |
getch(); | It is used for any character input from the keyboard |
return0; | It terminated the main function and returns 0 |
} | It depicts the end of the main function |
Here are some of the most popular online compilers that let you run C/C++ codes:
1. OnlineGDB C Compiler: This platform supports various programming languages. The web portal provides a clean UI and is comprehensive for beginners. You don’t have to create an account to run the codes.
2. Tutorialspoint Compiler: One of the most popular online compiler platforms with numerous offerings. All you have to do is create an account to share the code that you want to run through this compiler. However, it does not support the code links without sign-in. But it comes with a clean interface compared to other online Compilers.
3. Replit: It is a full-fledged compiler that offers premium features, supports other languages, and has a separate team offering. It can also be used for a professional purpose under the premium plan. After creating an account, it lets you facilitate more features of C language.
4. Rextester: It is best to run the debug code and is one the simplest compiler for C/C++. You can switch the operations between dark and light themes and vertical/horizontal layouts.
5. OneCompiler: This is one of the best online compiler platforms that supports a wide range of programming languages. It comes with a neat interface and offers a great experience to the users. It also allows you to switch between light and dark themes. You will find a bunch of different tutorials, posts, and coding challenges that help you learn while you’re at C programming.
Here are some benefits of learning the C programming language:
The C programming language finds extensive usage in various domains:
Wrapping up, the C programming language is one of the essential tools for developing various applications. It is the basic programming language that makes other languages easier to understand and gives you a good grasp of codes.
While going through tutorials can help you learn all about C, upskilling with leading courses, like upGrad’s MS in Computer Science from Liverpool John Moores University can help you explore the vast possibilities it offers to its learners.
Enroll now to kick start your journey with upGrad!
1. What is C language and its types?
C is a versatile programming language for developing diverse applications, initially designed for operating system development. The C language is extensively employed in creating the Unix kernel and its accompanying tools and libraries.
2. What is the main function in C?
Every C program has a primary function that acts as the program's entry point, serving as the starting point for execution. It typically manages the program's flow by directing calls to other functions within the program.
3. What is the basic syntax for C language?
The fundamental structure of a C program includes header files, the main function, and program code. The main function is essential as it marks the starting point for program execution, without which the program will not initiate its execution.
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upGrad does not grant credit; credits are granted, accepted or transferred at the sole discretion of the relevant educational institution offering the diploma or degree. We advise you to enquire further regarding the suitability of this program for your academic, professional requirements and job prospects before enr...