C Language Introduction and Basics

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Questions and Answers

What are the main characteristics that define the C programming language?

The main characteristics of C include portability, efficiency, flexibility, and reliability.

Explain the difference between a variable and a data type in C.

A variable is a named memory location that stores a value, while a data type defines what type of value a variable can hold, such as int or float.

List the types of operators available in C and provide a brief description of each.

C has arithmetic operators (+, -, *, /, %), which perform mathematical operations, and comparison operators (==, !=, >, >=), which compare values.

What is an array in C and how is it different from a structure?

<p>An array is a collection of values of the same data type stored in contiguous memory locations, while a structure is a collection of values of different data types.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What necessitated the development of the C programming language in 1972?

<p>C was developed to provide a general-purpose language that was efficient and flexible for system programming and application development.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

What is C?

A general-purpose programming language known for its efficiency and flexibility. It was designed by Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs in 1972.

What is a variable?

A variable is a named location in computer memory that holds a value. It can change throughout the program.

What are data types?

These specify which type of data a variable can store, such as whole numbers (int), decimal numbers (float), or characters (char).

What are operators?

Symbols used to perform actions on variables and values. Examples include addition (+), subtraction (-), multiplication (*), and division (/).

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What are control structures?

These control the flow of execution of the program, deciding how things are done. Examples include if-else statements (for decisions) and loops (for repeated actions).

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Study Notes

C Language Introduction

  • C is a general-purpose, procedural, and compiled language.
  • It was created by Dennis Ritchie in 1972.
  • Key features include portability, efficiency, flexibility, and reliability.
  • Developed at Bell Labs in 1972.

Basic Syntax Elements

  • Variables: Names given to memory locations to store values.
  • Data Types: Determine the kind of value a variable can hold (e.g., integers, floating-point numbers, characters).
  • Operators: Symbols used for performing operations on variables and values (e.g., addition, subtraction, multiplication).
  • Control Structures: Control the execution flow of a program (e.g., if-else, loops, switch).

Data Types in Detail

  • Integer Types: Represent whole numbers (e.g., int, short, long, long long).
  • Floating-Point Types: Store numbers with decimal points (e.g., float, double, long double).
  • Character Types: Represent single characters (e.g., char).
  • Arrays: Ordered collections of values of the same data type, stored in consecutive memory locations.
  • Structures: Collections of values of potentially different data types, stored contiguously.

Operators Explained

  • Arithmetic Operators: Perform basic mathematical operations (e.g., addition +, subtraction -, multiplication *, division /, modulo %).
  • Comparison Operators: Compare values and return a boolean result (e.g., equal ==, not equal !=, greater than >, less than <).

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