Learn C Programming

Before starting with the C Programming Tutorial lets understand what C Language, How it became so Popular many of you must have question How to learn C language, here in this C Tutorial you’ll learn C language basics, and this C Tutorial for Beginners to Advance, and will Excel and Clear All your Doubts on C Language. So why you’re waiting? Let us Start With this C Online Tutorial.

C Language History

• The C programming language is a structure oriented programming language, developed at Bell Laboratories in 1972 by Dennis Ritchie
• C programming language features were derived from an earlier language called “B” (Basic Combined Programming Language – BCPL)
• C language was invented for implementing UNIX operating system
• In 1978, Dennis Ritchie and Brian Kernighan published the first edition “The C Programming Language” and commonly known as K&R C
• In 1983, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) established a committee to provide a modern, comprehensive definition of C. The resulting definition, the ANSI standard, or “ANSI C”, was completed late 1988.

C Programming Language Standards

• C89/C90 standard – First standardized specification for C language was developed by the American National Standards Institute in 1989. C89 and C90 standards refer to the same programming language.
• C99 standard – Next revision was published in 1999 that introduced new features like advanced data types and other changes.

C11 and Embedded C Language

• C11 standard adds new features to C programming language and libraries like type generic macros, anonymous structures, improved Unicode support, atomic operations, multi-threading and bounds-checked functions. It also makes some portions of the existing C99 library optional and improves compatibility with C++.
• Embedded C includes features not available in C like fixed-point arithmetic, named address spaces, and basic I/O hardware addressing.
• Operating systems, C compiler, and all UNIX application programs are written in C language
• It is also called as a procedure-oriented programming language. The C language is reliable, simple and easy to use. C has been coded in assembly language.

Features Of C Programming Language:

C language is one of the powerful languages. Below are some of the features of C language.

• Reliability
• Portability
• Flexibility
• Interactivity
• Modularity
• Efficiency and Effectiveness

Uses of C Programming Language

The C programming language is used for developing system applications that form a major portion of operating systems such as Windows, UNIX and Linux. Below are some examples of C being used.

• Database systems
• Graphics packages
• Word processors
• Spreadsheets
• Operating system development
• Compilers and Assemblers
• Network drivers
• Interpreters

Which Level Is C Language Belonging to?

There are 3 levels of programming languages. They are,

1. Middle-Level languages:
   Middle-level languages don’t provide all the built-in functions found in high-level languages but provide all building blocks that we need to produce the result we want. Examples: C, C++
2. High-Level languages:
   High-level languages provide almost everything that the programmer might need to do as already built into the language. Example: Java, Python
3. Low-Level languages:
   Low-level languages provide nothing other than access to the machines basic instruction set. Example: Assembler

C Language Is a Structured Language

Structure-oriented language:

• In this type of language, large programs are divided into small programs called functions
• Prime focus is on functions and procedures that operate on the data
• Data moves freely around the systems from one function to another
• Program structure follows “Top Down Approach”
• Examples: C, Pascal, ALGOL and Modula-2

Object-oriented language:

• In this type of language, programs are divided into objects
• Prime focus is in the data that is being operated and not on the functions or procedures
• Data is hidden and cannot be accessed by external functions
• Program structure follows “Bottom UP Approach”
• Examples: C++, Java and C# (C sharp)

Non-structure oriented language:

• There is no specific structure for programming this language. Examples: BASIC, COBOL, FORTRAN

Key Points To Remember In C Language

1. The C language is a structure oriented programming language developed by Dennis Ritchie.
2. The C language is belonging to a middle-level programming language.
3. Operating system programs such as Windows, Unix, Linux are written in C language.
4. C89/C90 and C99 are two standardized editions of C language.
5. C has been written in assembly language.