Introduction to C Programming

Study Notes

Introduction to C Programming

C programming language was developed at AT&T's Bell Laboratories in 1972 by Dennis Ritchie.
Understanding the basics includes knowing the alphabets, numbers, and symbols used in C, as well as how to form constants, variables, and keywords.
A collection of instructions forms a program, designed to solve specific problems.
The computer's instruction set represents basic operations essential for tasks.
Algorithms define the systematic approach to problem-solving.

Types of Programming Languages

Programming languages are categorized into low-level and high-level languages.

Low-Level Language

Comprises machine-level and assembly-level languages.
Machine-level language consists purely of binary numbers (0s and 1s), making it challenging to program directly.
Assembly language utilizes English-like commands (e.g., ADD, MOV) for easier understanding, but requires an assembler for translation to machine code.
Data storage varies by computer architecture, limiting portability.

High-Level Language

High-level languages are machine-independent and portable, with common examples including Pascal, COBOL, and Fortran.
These languages require a translator to convert them into machine-level language.

Types of Translators

There are three main types of translators:
- Compiler: Converts high-level language into machine code, processes the entire program at once, and lists errors.
- Interpreter: Translates one line of code at a time, checking for errors sequentially.
- Assembler: Converts assembly language into machine code.
Code written in high-level language is termed as the source program, while the corresponding machine code is the object program.

Importance of C

C is characterized as a robust language due to its extensive built-in functions and operators.
Merges assembly language capabilities with high-level language features, suitable for both system software and business applications.
C programs are known for efficiency and speed while being highly portable.
Structured programming is well-supported, and C has the ability to extend itself.
A C program is fundamentally a collection of functions, supported by the C standard library.

Sample Program Insights

Every C program must have one designated main() function, signaling where execution begins.
The empty parentheses in main() denote no parameters.
Curly braces {} define the start and end of the function, enclosing statements within the function body.

Description

This quiz serves as an introduction to the C programming language, exploring its origins and fundamental concepts. Developed by Dennis Ritchie at Bell Laboratories in 1972, C has become one of the most widely used programming languages. Test your knowledge and understanding of its basics and history.