Introduction to C Programming

Study Notes

Introduction to C Programming

C programming language was developed in 1972 at AT&T's Bell Laboratories by Dennis Ritchie.
Understanding C begins with learning its alphabet, numbers, special symbols, constants, variables, and keywords.
A program in C is a collection of instructions for solving specific problems, governed by the computer’s instruction set.
Algorithms define the approach to solving problems within programming.

Types of Programming Languages

Low-level Languages:
- Comprised of machine-level and assembly-level languages.
- Machine-level languages operate in binary (0s and 1s), making them difficult for programmers to implement instructions.
- Assembly language uses readable syntax (e.g., ADD, MOV) but still requires knowledge of hardware specifics.
- Both types are non-portable and prone to errors.
High-level Languages:
- Machine-independent and portable, examples include Pascal, COBOL, and Fortran.
- High-level languages require translation into machine code via translators to be understood by computers.

Types of Translators

Compiler:
- Converts high-level code into machine code in one batch.
- Identifies errors during the complete read of the program before producing object code.
- Preferred for larger programs due to its efficiency.
Interpreter:
- Translates code line-by-line and executes it.
- Detects errors statement-by-statement, leading to slower performance than compilers.
Assembler:
- Converts assembly language to machine code.

Importance of C

C is known for its robustness, built-in functions, and operators suitable for complex programming tasks.
It merges assembly language efficiency with high-level language features, making it ideal for system software and business applications.
C programs are efficient, fast, and highly portable.
Structured programming is a key attribute of C, with programs being collections of functions supported by a C library.

Sample C Program Structure

Every C program must include one main function, which indicates the program's starting point.
The main() function has empty parentheses, denoting no parameters.
Curly braces {} define the function body, encapsulating all execution statements within the function.

Description

This quiz covers the fundamentals of C programming as developed by Dennis Ritchie at AT&T's Bell Laboratories in 1972. It is designed to help learners familiarize themselves with basic concepts, syntax, and functionality of the C language. Ideal for students in the Department of Mathematical and Computational Sciences.