Basic C Programming - Expanded Version
For Beginners - English Version
Lesson 1: Introduction to C
C is a powerful, efficient, and portable programming language. It is often referred
to as the 'mother' of modern programming languages because many other
languages, such as C++, Java, and Python, are influenced by it. C is widely used
in developing operating systems, embedded systems, and other
performance-critical applications.
Key Features of C:
- Simple and easy to learn syntax.
- Compiled language, resulting in faster execution.
- Low-level access to memory via pointers.
- Allows direct manipulation of hardware, making it suitable for system
programming.
Lesson 2: Writing Your First C Program
Every C program starts with a `main` function. This is where the program begins
execution. You can include libraries using `#include` to use built-in functions like
`printf()` for printing output.
Example program:
#include int main() { printf("Hello, world!\n"); return 0; }
Explanation of each line:
- `#include `: This tells the compiler to include the standard input/output header file,
which contains the declaration for `printf()` and other standard functions.
- `int main()`: This is the entry point of the program. The program starts executing
from this function.
- `printf(...)`: A function used to print text to the output screen. In this case, it prints
'Hello, world!'.
- `return 0;`: Ends the main function and returns 0 to the operating system, which
indicates that the program finished successfully.
Lesson 3: Variables and Data Types
Variables are used to store data in a program. Before using a variable in C, you
must declare it with a data type. The data type tells the compiler what type of value
the variable will store.
Common data types include:
- `int`: Used for integers like 1, -3, 100.
- `float`: Used for decimal values like 3.14, 9.81.
- `char`: Stores a single character such as 'A', 'b', '9'.
- `double`: Similar to float but with double precision (more accurate decimals).
Example declarations:
int age = 20; float height = 5.9; char grade = 'A';
In this example, we declare an integer variable `age`, a float variable `height`, and
a character variable `grade`. Each variable is assigned a value.
Lesson 4: Conditional Statements
Conditional statements allow your program to make decisions and execute certain
parts of the code based on whether a condition is true or false.
The basic structure of an if-else statement is:
if (condition) { // Code to run if condition is true } else { // Code to run if
condition is false }
Example:
int age = 18; if (age >= 18) { printf("You are an adult.\n"); } else { printf("You
are a minor.\n"); }
In this program, the condition `age >= 18` is evaluated. If it is true, it prints 'You are
an adult.', otherwise it prints 'You are a minor.'
Lesson 5: Loops
Loops are used to execute a block of code repeatedly. This is useful when you
want to perform an operation multiple times without writing the code again and
again.
Types of loops in C:
- `for` loop: Used when the number of iterations is known.
- `while` loop: Used when the condition is checked before each iteration.
- `do-while` loop: Like while loop, but guarantees at least one execution.
Example of a `for` loop:
for (int i = 1; i <= 5; i++) { printf("%d\n", i); }
This loop starts with `i = 1` and continues until `i <= 5`. After each iteration, `i` is
increased by 1. The result is that numbers from 1 to 5 are printed.
Lesson 6: Functions
Functions help you break down your program into smaller, reusable parts. A
function takes input, performs an operation, and may return a result.
Basic structure of a function:
return_type function_name(parameters) { // code }
Example:
void greet() { printf("Welcome!\n"); } int main() { greet(); return 0; }
Here, `greet()` is a user-defined function that prints a message. It is called from
`main()`. The `void` keyword indicates that the function does not return a value.
End of Basic C Programming Module
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