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Features of C Language

C is a widely used programming language that provides features like being machine-independent, having a mid-level of abstraction, and structured programming. It has a simple and rich structure, supports pointers, recursion, and memory management. C is used for operating systems, embedded systems, and applications. The basic structure of a C program includes documentation, preprocessor statements, global declarations, the main() function containing local declarations and program statements, and optional user-defined functions.

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11K views

Features of C Language

C is a widely used programming language that provides features like being machine-independent, having a mid-level of abstraction, and structured programming. It has a simple and rich structure, supports pointers, recursion, and memory management. C is used for operating systems, embedded systems, and applications. The basic structure of a C program includes documentation, preprocessor statements, global declarations, the main() function containing local declarations and program statements, and optional user-defined functions.

Uploaded by

priya
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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FEATURES OF C LANGUAGE

C Programming is widely used in Computer Technology, We can say that C is


inspiration for development of other languages. We can use C for different purposes. Below
are some of the Features of C Programming

C is the widely used language. It provides a lot of features that are given below.
1. Simple
2. Machine Independent or Portable
3. Mid-level programming language
4. structured programming language
5. Rich Library
6. Memory Management
7. Fast Speed
8. Pointers
9. Recursion
10. Extensible
1) SIMPLE
C is a simple language in the sense that it provides structured approach (to break the
problem into parts), rich set of library functions, data types etc.
2) MACHINE INDEPENDENT OR PORTABLE
Unlike assembly language, c programs can be executed in many machines with little
bit or no change. But it is not platform-independent.
3) MID-LEVEL PRORGRAMMING LANGUAGE

C is also used to do low level programming. It is used to develop system applications


such as kernel, driver etc. It also supports the feature of high level language. That is why it is
known as mid-level language.
4) STRUCTURED PRORGRAMMING LANGUAGE
C is a structured programming language in the sense that we can break the program
into parts using functions. So, it is easy to understand and modify.
5) RICH LIBRARY
C provides a lot of inbuilt functions that makes the development fast.
6) MEMORY MANAGEMENT
It supports the feature of dynamic memory allocation. In C language, we can free the
allocated memory at any time by calling the free () function.
7) SPEED
The compilation and execution time of C language is fast.
8) POINTER
C provides the feature of pointers. We can directly interact with the memory by using
the pointers. We can use pointers for memory, structures, functions, array etc.
9) RECURSION
In c, we can call the function within the function. It provides code reusability for every
function.
10) EXTENSIBLE
C language is extensible because it can easily adopt new features.
APPLICATION OF C PROGRAMMING
C Programming is best known programming language. C Programming is near to
machine as well as human so it is called as Middle level Programming Language. C
Programming can be used to do verity of tasks such as networking related, OS related.
APPLICATION OF C PROGRAMMING ARE LISTED BELOW
1. C language is used for creating computer applications
2. Used in writing Embedded softwares
3. Firmware for various electronics, industrial and communications products which
use micro-controllers.
4. It is also used in developing verification software, test code, simulators etc. for
various applications and hardware products.
5. For Creating Compiles of different Languages which can take input from other
language and convert it into lower level machine dependent language.
6. C is used to implement different Operating System Operations.
7. UNIX kernel is completely developed in C Language.

BASIC STRUCTURE OF A C PROGRAM


C language is very popular language among all the languages. Sometimes I think that
had there been no "C" language there would have no C++ and even Java. So let me explain
you

the

basic

structure

of

language.

The structure of a C program is a protocol (rules) to the programmer, while writing a C


program. The general basic structure of C program is shown in the figure below. The whole
program is controlled within main ( ) along with left brace denoted by { and right braces
denoted by }. If you need to declare local variables and executable program structures are
enclosed within { and } is called the body of the main function. The main ( ) function
can be preceded by documentation, preprocessor statements and global declarations.

DOCUMENTATIONS
The documentation section consist of a set of comment lines giving the name of the
program, the another name and other details, which the programmer would like to use later.
PREPROCESSOR STATEMENTS
The preprocessor statement begin with # symbol and are also called the
preprocessor directive. These statements instruct the compiler to include C preprocessors
such as header files and symbolic constants before compiling the C program. Some of the
preprocessor statements are listed below.

GLOBAL DECLARATIONS
The variables are declared before the main ( ) function as well as user defined
functions are called global variables. These global variables can be accessed by all the user
defined functions including main ( ) function.
The main ( ) function
Each and Every C program should contain only one main ( ). The C program execution
starts with main ( ) function. No C program is executed without the main function. The main
( ) function should be written in small (lowercase) letters and it should not be terminated by
semicolon. Main ( ) executes user defined program statements, library functions and user
defined functions and all these statements should be enclosed within left and right braces.
Braces
Every C program should have a pair of curly braces ({, }). The left braces indicates
the beginning of the main ( ) function and the right braces indicates the end of the main ( )
function. These braces can also be used to indicate the user-defined functions beginning and
ending. These two braces can also be used in compound statements.
Local Declarations
The variable declaration is a part of C program and all the variables are used in main
( ) function should be declared in the local declaration section is called local variables. Not
only variables, we can also declare arrays, functions, pointers etc. These variables can also
be initialized with basic data types. For examples.
Code:
Main ( )
{
int sum = 0;
int x;
float y;
}

Here, the variable sum is declared as integer variable and it is initialized to zero.
Other variables declared as int and float and these variables inside any function are called
local variables.
PROGRAM STATEMENTS
These statements are building blocks of a program. They represent instructions to the
computer to perform a specific task (operations). An instruction may contain an input-output
statements, arithmetic statements, control statements, simple assignment statements and
any other statements and it also includes comments that are enclosed within /* and */ . The
comment statements are not compiled and executed and each executable statement should
be terminated with semicolon.
USER DEFINED FUNCTIONS
These are subprograms, generally, a subprogram is a function and these functions
are written by the user are called user; defined functions. These functions are performed by
user specific tasks and this also contains set of program statements. They may be written
before or after a main () function and called within main () function. This is an optional to the
programmer.
Now, let us write a small program to display some message shown below.
CODE:
# include <stdio.h>
main()
{
printf ("welcome to the world of C/n");
}
C PROGRAM EXAMPLE
We are going to learn a simple Hello World program in this section. Functions,
syntax and the basics of a C program are explained in below table.

OUTPUT:
Hello World!
Let us see the performance of above program line by line.

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