Introduction to C Programming Language
What is C language?
C is a high-level programming language.
C programming language was designed and developed by Denis Ritchie at AT&T Bell Laboratoires in 1972-73.
C language is a case-sensitive language, which means num is not equal to Num, they both are different from each other.
C is an easy to learn programming language.
Similarities between learning English Language and C Programming Language:
1) English language: First we have to learn Alphabets in English language.
C language: First we have to learn Alphabets, Digits and Special Symbols in C language.
2) English language: After learning Alphabets, we learn to create words.
C language: After learning Alphabets, Digits and Special Symbols, we learn to create Variable and Constants and learn what are keywords in C language
3) English language: After creating words, we learn how to make a sentence using those words.
C language: After knowing what is variable, constant and keywords, we learn how to create statements or how to give instructions in C language.
4) English language: When we have learnt how to make sentences, we learn how make paragraphs in English language.
C language: When we know how to give instructions, then we will be able to create programs, because the program is a set of instructions.
Where do we have to write code?
We have to use an application called 'Compiler'. I am using Dev c++ compiler, but there are many other compilers to write c programs. For example: Visual Studio Code, Code::Blocks, etc.
But, why do we have to use a compiler?
The code of C program is written in English Language. We can understand the English language, but a computer can't. So, when we write our code in a compiler, the compiler translates that code into machine language and creates Executable (.exe) file. This executable will run in a command prompt window.
Now, let's take a look at our basic C program
#include<stdio.h>
main()
{
printf("Hello World");
}
Here,
# Is a preprocessor and stdio.h is a header file.
The line `#include<stdio.h>` means, we have told the compiler to first include the stdio.h header file in our program.
Next line is the main function
The word `main` is a name of a function in C language and the round brackets `()` is called parenthesis. After the word `main` we have to add parenthesis to create main function.
The opening curly bracket `{` is the opening point of our main function and the closing curly bracket at the last line `}` is the closing point of main function.
The execution of the C program starts with main function.
Between this opening and closing curly brackets, there is a body of our main function.
The printf statement is written in the body of the main function.
The word `printf` is the name of the pre-defined output function which is declared in `stdio.h` header file and we have called this printf function to display `Hello World` message on the screen when we run the program.
Any message that we want to display on the screen should be written between the opening and closing round brackets and our message should be enclosed with double quotes.
For example, I want to display Happy birthday to the screen, so I will write printf("Happy birthday"); and dont forget to add semicolon `;` at the end of printf statement, because semicolon is a statement terminator.
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