All About The Basics of C Programming

There isn’t a single industry that hasn’t been revolutionized by computers and it is one of the fastest-growing industries in recent times. As such learning to program a computer is and will always be an in-demand skill. C programming is a basic general programming language and a great first step to getting into programming. In this blog, we’ll explore the ins and outs of C programming and help you not only understand but also master it. 

Introduction to C Programming

C programming is a powerful general-purpose language developed by Dennis Ritchie in the early 1970s at AT&T Bell Labs and has since been widely adopted by developers around the world.

C is a versatile language that can be used for everything from low-level system programming to high-level application development. It is also one of the most popular languages for teaching introductory programming courses. C is known as a procedural language, meaning that programs are written as a sequence of step-by-step instructions. This makes it ideal for tasks that need to be completed in a specific order, such as manipulating data or performing mathematical calculations. One of the most important features of C is its portability, which means that programs written in C can be run on any platform without needing to be recompiled. This makes C an ideal choice for developing cross-platform applications.

C++ is an extension of C that was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup in the early 1980s. It adds object-oriented features to C, making it more powerful and flexible. However, C++ is more complex and can be harder for beginners to learn.

Variables and Data Types in C

C programming is all about variables and data types. To understand what C programming is, you need to understand these two concepts.

Variable

A variable is a value that can be changed during the program, It  can be a,

• Number
• Character
• String of characters

Data Types

A data type is a classification that determines how the variable will be stored in memory and what operations can be performed on it. The most common data types in C are,

• Int - it is used for whole numbers
• Float - it is used for fractional numbers
• Char - it is used for characters

To declare a variable in C, you use the keyword "var" followed by the name of the variable and the data type.

Here a variable “a” is declared of type “int”(integer).

Control Statements in C

There are three primary control statements in C programming:

• If
• These statements are used to execute a certain block of code only if a certain condition is true.
• For example, you could use an if statement to check if a user has input a valid password before allowing them to access a secure area of your website.

• Here the input is received by the if condition,
• If the condition is true -  statement 1 is executed
• If the condition is false - statement 2 is executed
• For
• For loops are used to repeat a block of code a set number of times.
• For example, you could use a for loop to print out the first 10 numbers in the Fibonacci sequence

• Here when the for the condition is executed,
• When the condition is true - statement 1 is executed 
• The loop is iterated
• When the condition is false - the loop stops executing
• While
• loops are used to execute a certain block of code until a certain condition is no longer true.
• For example, you could use a while loop to keep prompting a user for their password until they input the correct one.

• Here when the condition is executed,
• While the condition is true - statement 1 is executed 
• When the condition is false - the loop stops executing

Functions in C

A function is a group of statements that performs a specific task.

In C programming, functions are divided into two types:

Library Functions

Library functions, also known as predefined functions, are already defined in the C libraries. This means we don't need to write a definition or the body of the function to call them. We can simply refer to them without defining them because they have already been defined. However, in order to call a library function, we must include the library at the beginning of the code. We can then call them using the function's proper syntax. Library functions include printf(), scanf(), ceil(), and floor().

User-Defined Functions

These are functions that are declared, defined, and called in a programme by a developer or a user. This broadens the scope, functionality, and reusability of C programming by allowing us to define and use any function we desire. A significant advantage of C programming is the ability to add a user-defined function to any library and use it in other programmes.

Arrays and Pointers in C

An array is a collection of data items, all of the same type, that are accessed using a common name. A pointer is a variable that stores the address of another variable.

In C, an array is a fixed-size sequence of elements of the same data type. The elements are accessed by their index: the first element has an index of 0, the second element has an index of 1, and so on. The size of an array must be specified when it is declared, and its elements cannot be changed during execution.

A pointer is a variable that contains the address of another variable. Pointers are used to store the addresses of functions and arrays. They can also be used to pass arguments to functions by reference (instead of by value).

C++ introduced the concept of references, which provide another way to access objects indirectly. A reference is like a pointer, but it is automatically dereferenced when it is used (except when it is assigned to another reference). In addition, a reference cannot be NULL; if it is not initialized, it will refer to garbage memory locations.

Memory Management in C

One of the most important aspects of programming in C is memory management. By understanding how C manages memory, you can write more efficient and reliable code.

C programs use two types of memory:

• Static memory:
• It is allocated at compile time and cannot be changed at runtime
• Example - Pointers 
• Dynamic memory:
• It is allocated at runtime and can be changed as needed
• Example - Structures 

When allocating memory statically, the programmer must specify the size of the area to be allocated at compile time. This approach is simple but can waste space if the amount of data to be stored exceeds the size of the static allocation. In addition, static allocations cannot be easily freed when no longer needed, which can lead to memory leaks.

Dynamic allocation allows for more flexible management of memory as it can be resized as needed at runtime. However, this approach can also lead to fragmentation over time as blocks of dynamic memory are allocated and freed. To avoid fragmentation, dynamic allocations should be managed using a technique called garbage collection.

Networking in C

Networking concepts related to C include socket programming, which is a mechanism for communication between two computers using the Internet Protocol (IP) suite, as well as network byte order, which is the standard way of representing data on a network. Socket programming in C can be used to create both client and server applications. The network byte order is important when dealing with data that needs to be exchanged between different machines, as it ensures that the data is interpreted correctly.

Conclusion

We hope this blog has given you a basic understanding of what C programming is, why it’s important and how to get started. If you're new to programming, the vast array of languages can be daunting. Skill-Lync helps by allowing you to focus on one language at a time and providing resources to make learning that language easier. Once you've learned the basics of programming in a given language, you can move on to another language with more confidence. And if you would ever need to review or brush up on a particular language, Skill-Lync’s upskilling courses can help with that too.