This article will help you get started with C language by giving a brief overview of the language, its history, key features and applications.
C is widely recognized as a versatile and procedural programming language.
General-purpose – means C language is designed for developing software that applies in wide range of application domains.
Procedural – means C program is a set of functions. Each function performs a specific task. And in the program, those functions are called in sequence to make program works as designed.
Who invented C language
Dennis MacAlistair Ritche developed C language in 1970s at AT&T Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, New Jersey for developing the UNIX operating system.
Applications of C
During1980s, C language was really a popular language for developing software designed specifically for personal computers with UNIX systems. Since then it rapidly spread to mainframe.
With C language, programmers make programs that are very compact and efficient as well as they are easy to modify to adapt to new computer models.
This is the reason why C was a preferred language for developing word pressing programs, database, spreadsheets and other software products.
Today you can easily find program written in C in many embedded systems. C is used to program software for many microprocessors found in cameras, automobile, phone and other modern smart devices.
C language key features
Here are the primary key attributes that define the C language:
The main key features of C language are listed as follows:
- Capable of operating very closed to the machine. In C you can manipulate data at very low level such as memory address.
- Efficiency. Programs written in C are smaller and run faster than programs written in other languages such as C++, Java or C#.
- Portable source code. If you have a compiler for C in a specific platform, C program will operate properly on that platform. You can find compilers for almost platforms. In addition, the design of C language makes it easy to port existing programs to a new platform.
Nowadays a lot of modern languages have been invented such as C++, Java, C#… C is a good choice among developers for system programming especially software used in embedded systems.
The efficiency of C also allows programmers develop robust and powerful database and graphics software.
C related languages
C++ is the first language that was developed to add object-oriented enhancements to C and later on became a standard. C++ is also a very popular language that many C programmers choose to work with.
Apple developed Objective-C that also adds object-oriented features on top of C for developing application on OS X for Mac and iOS for iPhone, iPad and other products.
All the syntax of Objective-C that is not dealing with object-oriented operations is identical to C.
Is learning C difficult?
No. C is not difficult to learn at all! and once you master C language you can easily learn other modern languages such as C++, Objective-C, C# and Java without difficulties.
We hope that you can get the most out of our C Programming Language website to master C by yourself with ease and fun. Happy programming!
Let’s get started by writing the first C program by following the getting started with C tutorial.
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