C PROGRAMMING NOTES
C PROGRAMMING NOTES
-CHARACTER SET:
A character set is a set of alphabets, letters and some special characters that are valid in C language.
-ALPHABETS:
C language accepts both lowercase and uppercase alphabets as Variables and Functions.
-DIGITS:
0123456789
-SPECIAL CHARACTERS:
, < > . _
( ) ; $ :
% [ ] # ?
^ ! * / |
- \ ~ +
Blank space, newline, horizontal tab, carriage return and form feed.
-C KEYWORDS:
Keywords are predefined, reserved words used in programming that have special meanings to the
compiler. Keywords are part of the syntax and they cannot be used as an identifier. For example:
Int money;
Here, int is a keyword that indicates money is a variable of type int (integer).
As C is a case sensitive language, all keywords must be written in lowercase. Here is a list of all
keywords allowed in ANSI C.
C Keywords
do if static while
auto
This statement suggests that var1 is a variable of storage class auto and
type int.
Variables declared within function bodies are automatic by default. They
are recreated each time a function is executed.
Since automatic variables are local to a function, they are also called local
variables. To learn more visit C storage class.
break and continue
The break statement terminates the innermost loop immediately when it's
encountered. It's also used to terminate the switch statement.
The continue statement skips the statements after it inside the loop for the
iteration.
for (i=1;i<=10;++i){
if (i==3)
continue;
if (i==7)
break;
printf("%d ",i);
Output
1 2 4 5 6
When i is equal to 3, the continue statement comes into effect and skips 3.
When i is equal to 7, the break statement comes into effect and terminates
the for loop. To learn more, visit C break and continue statement
switch, case and default
The switch and case statement is used when a block of statements has to
be executed among many blocks. For example:
switch(expression)
case '1':
//some statements to execute when 1
break;
case '5':
break;
default:
char alphabet;
const
An identifier can be declared constant by using the const keyword.
const int a = 5;
do
printf("%d ",i);
i++;
while (i<10)
float number;
double longNumber;
if (i == 1)
printf("i is 1.")
else
i is not 1
enum
Enumeration types are declared in C programming using keyword enum.
For example:
enum suit
hearts;
spades;
clubs;
diamonds;
};
Here, an enumerated variable suit is created having
tags: hearts , spades , clubs, and diamonds .
extern
The extern keyword declares that a variable or a function has external
linkage outside of the file it is declared.
for
There are three types of loops in C programming. The for loop is written in
C programming using the keyword for . For example:
printf("%d ",i);
Output
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
if (i==10)
goto error;
error:
Output
int
The int keyword is used to declare integer type variables. For example:
int count;
return
The return keyword terminates the function and returns the value.
int func() {
int b = 5;
return b;
}
This function func() returns 5 to the calling function. To learn more, visit C
user-defined functions.
sizeof
The sizeof keyword evaluates the size of data (a variable or a constant).
#include <stdio.h>
int main()
printf("%u bytes.",sizeof(char));
1 bytes.
register
The register keyword creates register variables which are much faster than
normal variables.
struct
The struct keyword is used for declaring a structure. A structure can hold
variables of different types under a single name.
struct student{
char name[80];
float marks;
int age;
}s1, s2;
typedef
The typedef keyword is used to explicitly associate a type with an identifier.
typedef float kg;
kg bear, tiger;
union
A union is used for grouping different types of variables under a single
name.
union student {
char name[80];
float marks;
int age;
void
The void keyword meaning nothing or no value.
void testFunction(int a) {
.....
}
Here, the testFunction() function cannot return a value because its return
type is void.
volatile
The volatile keyword is used for creating volatile objects. A volatile object
can be modified in an unspecified way by the hardware.
C Identifiers
int money;
double accountBalance;
You can choose any name as an identifier if you follow the above
rule, however, give meaningful names to identifiers that make
sense.