What is C?
C is a general-purpose programming language created by Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs in 1972.
It is popular because it is fast, widely supported, and helps you understand how programs work "under the hood".
The main reason for its popularity is because it is a fundamental language in the field of computer science.
C is closely connected to UNIX, because much of UNIX was written in C.
What is C used for?
C is often used to create programs that need to run fast and work closely with the computer.
- Operating systems, such as parts of Windows, Linux, and macOS
- Programs inside devices like cars, TVs, and home electronics
- Software that needs to be fast, including databases and system tools
- Game engines and programs that handle graphics
- Core libraries that other programming languages rely on
Note: For curious learners: C has different language standards (like C90, C99, C11, C17, and newer versions). This tutorial focuses on modern, widely supported C, and we point out important differences when it matters.
Why Learn C?
- It is one of the most widely used programming languages
- If you know C, you will have no problem learning other popular programming languages such as Java, Python, C++, C#, etc, as the syntax is similar
- It helps you understand memory, performance, and how computers handle data
- C is very versatile; it can be used in both applications and technologies
Difference between C and C++
- C++ was developed as an extension of C, and the syntax is often similar
- C is mainly a procedural language (you build programs with functions)
- C++ supports classes and objects (often used for object-oriented programming)
Note: C can still organize data using structures, and you can build large programs in C too. C++ just offers additional features (like classes) on top.
C Example
C is often used in everyday programming tasks, like showing a message to a user:
Example
#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
char name[] = "John";
printf("Hello %s", name);
return 0;
}
Get Started
Now let's get you started!
This tutorial will teach you the basics of C, step by step.
You will learn how to write C programs, understand what the code means, and build small projects along the way.
It is not necessary to have any prior programming experience.
