The C programming language, developed in the early 1970s at Bell Labs by Dennis Ritchie, has become one of the most widely used programming languages in the world. It serves as the foundation for many modern programming languages, including C++, C#, and Java.
Features of C Language
Low-Level Access: C provides low-level access to memory through the use of pointers, making it powerful for system programming.
Portability: C programs can be compiled and run on different machines with minimal modification.
Rich Library: C has a rich set of built-in functions and libraries that simplify complex tasks.
Efficiency: Programs written in C are often very efficient in terms of performance and memory usage.
Structured Programming: C supports structured programming, allowing developers to create programs that are easier to understand and maintain.
Basic Syntax
The syntax of C is straightforward. Here is a simple program that prints "Hello, World!" to the console:
Getting Started with C
To start programming in C, you need a C compiler. Popular options include GCC (GNU Compiler Collection) and Clang. You can write your C programs in any text editor and compile them using the command line.