C is a procedural computer programming language developed by Dennis Ritchie between 1972 and 1973. C can be used to develop software such as databases, operating systems, compilers, and many more. C language can also be an excellent programming language for beginners.
C programming language is a must-know for students and working professionals who want to become better Software Engineers, especially if they work in the Software Development field. C was the first used for system development, namely for the programmes that make up an operating system. C was chosen as a system development language because it generates code that executes nearly as quickly as assembly language code.
All executable codes in C are contained within functions, though not strictly in the sense of functional programming. Function in C is referred to as a group of statements that perform a task together. Any C program has at least one function, i.e., main(). Multiple additional functions can also be used in a code to define a program.
Applications of C Programming
- Operating Systems
- Language Compilers
- Assemblers
- Text Editors
- Language interpreters
Advantages of Function in C Programming
The functions in the C programming language offer the following advantages to us:
- When you use the functions, rewriting the same code/ logic time and again multiple times in any program can easily be avoided.
- The calling of C functions may appear as many numbers of times as we want in any program.
- Tracking a large C program can be easily performed if you divide it into various functions.
- One of the primary achievements of the C functions is reusability.
- However, remember that the function calling always acts as an overhead in the case of a C program.
Data Types in C Programming
It refers to the type of data that is used in a C program. Whenever you utilize data types in a C program, you have to define its variables or functions. It is necessary to do so because you must specify the type of data that is in use so that the compiler knows exactly what type of data it must expect from the given program.
Data types used in C language refer to an extensive system used to declare various types of functions or variables in a program. On the basis of the type of variable present in a program, you can determine the space that it occupies in storage, along with the way in which the stored bit pattern will be interpreted. The data types in C program specifies the type of data that a variable can store, such as integer, floating, character, etc.
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 Programming 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.
