Introduction to C Programming
What is C?
It is a very powerful and general-purpose language used in programming. We can use C to
develop software such as databases, operating systems, compilers, and many more. This
programming language is excellent to learn for beginners in programming.
Table of Contents:
● About C Programming
● Prerequisites Of Using The C Language
● Why Learn C Programming Language?
● Benefits Of C Programming Language
● Facts About The C Language
● Writing The Word “How Are You” Using A C Program
● Applications Of A C Program
● Uses Of The C Programming Language
About C Programming
The C language is imperative, procedural, and general-purpose in nature, developed by Dennis M.
Ritchie in 1972 at the Bell Telephone for developing the UNIX OS. As of now, the C language is
one of the most widely used computer languages along with Java, which is mostly used among
modern programmers.
Prerequisites of using the C Language
Before you proceed ahead with the understanding and learning of the C language, you must have
a basic grasp of the terminologies of computer programming. If you understand the basics of
any computer programming language, then you will be able to effectively understand the C
language.
Why Learn C Programming Language?
This language is a must for those working professionals as well as students who want to
become established software engineers. Here are some of the key reasons why you must learn
the C language for the domain of software development:
● This language helps users comprehend a computer’s internal architecture. It assists you
in knowing how a computer would store information within and retrieve it.
● Learning other programming languages becomes easier after learning C, such as Python,
Java, etc.
● A programmer who is well-versed with the C language gets opportunities to work on
various open-source projects. For instance, some of the very popular projects
(open-source) have been written using the C programming language, such as Python
interpreter, Linux kernel, SQLite database, and many more.
Benefits of C Programming Language
Here are a few reasons why programmers choose the C language for running a program:
● It is a structured language.
● The C language is very easy to understand and learn.
● The C language generates very efficient programs.
● It helps you handle various low-level activities.
● The compilation of C programs can occur on various computer programs.
Facts About the C Language
● The C language came into existence for writing an OS known as the UNIX operating
system.
● This language is the successor of the B language, which came into existence in the early
1970s.
● The ANSI (American National Standard Institute) formalized this language in 1988.
● The creators of this language have totally written the UNIX OS in C.
● As of today, the C language is the most popular and widely used programming language.
● Programmers have implemented a majority of the futuristic, avant-garde tools and
software using the C language.
Writing the word “How are you” using a C Program
Excited about learning the basics of the C language? Well, you should be. Take a look at a small
conventional program written in the C language that prints the phrase, “How are you” in the
output.
#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
/* your first programming in C language */
printf(“How are you \n”);
return 0;
Applications of a C Program
This language was initially utilized for the development of systems- particularly those programs
that would make up an OS (operating system). The C programming language was adopted in the
form of a language for system development since it generates codes that run as fast as those
codes that exist in the assembly language. Here are a few examples of how we can use the C
language in development:
● Language Compilers
● Operating Systems
● Text Editors
● Assemblers
● Network Drivers
● Print Spoolers
● Modern Programs
● Language Interpreters
● Databases
● Utilities
Uses of the C Programming Language
● Procedural Language: The execution of the instructions present in a C program happens
step by step.
● Speed: The C language is much faster as compared to a majority of the programming
languages, such as Python, Java, and many more.
● Portable: A C program can be moved from any given platform to another one, and we can
also run it on that platform without any of the charges.
● General Purposes: We can use the C programming language for developing operating
systems, databases, embedded systems, etc.
