CSC 203

Falana O. J.
falanaoj@funaab.edu.ng
Introduction to C
Programming
language
HISTORY OF C
• In 1972 Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs writes C and in 1978 the
publication of The C Programming Language by Kernighan
& Ritchie caused a revolution in the computing world

• In 1983, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

established a committee to provide a modern, comprehensive
definition of C. The resulting definition, the ANSI standard, or
"ANSI C", was completed late 1988.
Why IS C Useful?
C provides:
 Efficiency, high performance and high quality
 flexibility and power
 Stability and small size code
 Provide functionality through rich set of function
libraries
 Gateway for other professional languages like
C  C++  Java

C is used:
 system software Compilers, Editors, embedded systems
 data compression, graphics and computational geometry,
utility programs
 databases, operating systems, device drivers, system level
routines
 there are zillions of lines of C legacy code
 also used in application programs
Basics of C Environment
• C systems consist of 3 parts
– C development environment
– Language
– C Standard Library

• C Development environment has 6 phases

– Edit
– Pre-processor
– Compile
– Link
– Load
– Execute
 C DEVELOPMENT Environment

Program edited in
Editor and stored
Phase 1 Editor Disk on disk

Preprocessor
program processes
Phase 2 Preprocessor Disk the code

Creates object code

and stores on disk
Phase 3 Compiler Disk

Links object code

with libraries and
Phase 4 Linker Disk stores on disk
 C DEVELOPMENT Environment

Primary memory
Puts program in
memory
Phase 5 Loader

Primary memory
Takes each instruction
and executes it storing
Phase 6 CPU new data values
C Compilers, Linkers, Loaders
 Few notes on C program…
C is a Structured programming language.

C is case-sensitive
 Word, word, WorD, WORD, WOrD, worD, etc are all different
variables / expressions

Eg. sum = 23 + 7
What is the value of Sum after this addition ?
 The General Form of a Simple Program
• Simple C programs have the form
directives
int main ()
{
statements
}
• C uses { and } in much the same way that some other languages use words like begin
and end.
• Even the simplest C programs rely on three key language features:
– Directives
– Functions
– Statements
 Directives
• Before a C program is compiled, it is first edited by a preprocessor.
• Commands intended for the preprocessor are called directives.
• Example:
#include <stdio.h>
• <stdio.h> is a header containing information about C’s standard I/O
library.
• Directives always begin with a # character.
• By default, directives are one line long; there’s no semicolon or other
special marker at the end.
• Two most common directives :
– #include
– #define
 Functions
 Every C program consists of one or more modules called FUNCTIONS.
One of the functions must be called main where the execution begins
when the program is run.
 A function is a self-contained module of code that can accomplish some
task.
 A function is a sub-unit of a program that performs a specific task.

 Each function must contain:

 a function heading
 a list of argument declarations (arguments are also referred to as parameters.
 a block of statements, which is enclosed within a pair of braces { }
 The braces may contain one or more elementary statements or other block of statements.
i.e {
{
}
}
 Functions
The program will always begin by executing the main function, which
may access other functions. Every function must return a value.
THE MAIN FUNCTION
• The main function is mandatory.
• main is special: it gets called automatically when the program is
executed.
• main returns a status code; the value 0 indicates normal program
termination.
• If there’s no return statement at the end of the main function,
many compilers will produce a warning message.
 Statements
A statement is a command to be executed when the program
runs.
Asking a function to perform its assigned task is known as
calling the function.
 Each statement in C needs to be terminated with semicolon (;)

Statement has two parts :

 Declaration
The part of the program that tells the compiler the names of memory cells
in a program
 Executable statements
Program lines that are converted to machine language instructions and
executed by the computer
 Few notes on C program…
Comments
 are inserted into the code using /* to start and */ to end a comment
 Some compiler support comments starting with //
 Such comments are useful in explaining the underlying logic of various
program features
 They may appear anywhere within a program, as long as they placed within
delimiters /* and */ or //

 Provides supplementary information but is ignored by the preprocessor and

compiler
/* Program to calculate the area of a circle*/
// This program was written by Iyabo Moshood
 C Syntax
#include inserts another file. “.h” files are called
“header” files.
What do the < >
mean? This is a comment. The compiler ignores
this.

#include <stdio.h>
The main() function is
/* The simplest C Program */ always where your program
int main(int argc, char **argv) starts running.
{
Blocks of code (“lexical
printf(“Hello World\n”); scopes”) are marked by { … }
return 0;
}

Returning a value from Print out a message. ‘\n’ means “new

the function line”.
 A Quick Digression About the
Compiler
#include <stdio.h>
/* The simplest C Program */ Compilation occurs in two steps:
int main(int argc, char **argv)
Preprocess
{
printf(“Hello World\n”);
“Preprocessing” and “Compiling”
return 0;
}

__extension__ typedef unsigned long long int __dev_t; In Preprocessing, source code is “expanded” into
__extension__ typedef
__extension__ typedef
unsigned int
unsigned int
__uid_t;
__gid_t; a larger form that is simpler for the compiler to
__extension__ typedef
__extension__ typedef
unsigned long int
unsigned long long int
__ino_t;
__ino64_t; understand. Any line that starts with ‘#’ is a
__extension__ typedef
__extension__ typedef
unsigned int
long int
__nlink_t;
__off_t; line that is interpreted by the Preprocessor.
__extension__ typedef long long int __off64_t;
extern void flockfile (FILE *__stream) ;
extern int ftrylockfile (FILE *__stream)
extern void funlockfile (FILE *__stream)
;
; • Include files are “pasted in” (#include)
int main(int argc, char **argv)
{ • Macros are “expanded” (#define)
printf(“Hello World\n”);
return 0; • Comments are stripped out ( /* */ , // )
}
• Continued lines are joined ( \ )

my_program The compiler then converts the resulting text

Compile
into binary code the CPU can run directly.
 FunctionS
A Function is a series of instructions to run. You
pass Arguments to a function and it returns a
Value.
“main()” is a Function. It’s only special because it
always gets called first when you run your
program.
Return type, or
void
Function
#include <stdio.h> Arguments
/* The simplest C Program */
int main(int argc, char **argv)
Calling a Function: “printf()” is just
{ another function, like main(). It’s
printf(“Hello World\n”); defined for you in a “library”, a
return 0;
collection of functions you can call from
your program.
} Returning a
value
Simple C Program
/* A first C Program*/

#include <stdio.h>

void main()

{
printf("Hello World \n");

}
 Simple C Program
• Line 1: #include <stdio.h>
• As part of compilation, the C compiler runs a program called the
C preprocessor. The preprocessor is able to add and remove code
from your source file.
• In this case, the directive #include tells the preprocessor to
include code from the file stdio.h.
• This file contains declarations for functions that the program
needs to use. A declaration for the printf function is in this file.
Line 2: void main()
• This statement declares the main function.
• The "void" specifies the return type of main. In this case, nothing
 Simple C Program
Line 3: {
This opening bracket denotes the start of the program.

Line 4: printf("Hello World \n");

Printf is a function from a standard C library that is used to print
strings to the standard output, normally your screen.
The compiler links code from these standard libraries to the
code you have written to produce the final executable.
The "\n" is a special format modifier that tells the printf to
put a line feed at the end of the line.

Line 5: }
This closing bracket denotes the end of the program.
 C Program Structure
• Another example of simple program in C

#include <stdio.h>

int main()
{
printf(“I love programming\n”);
printf(“You will love it too once
”);
printf(“you know the trick\n”);
return 0;
}
 The output
• The previous program will produce the
following output on your screen

I love programming
You will love it too once you know the trick
 Input/Output Functions
• A few functions that are pre-defined in the header file
<stdio.h> such as :
– printf()
– scanf()
– getchar() & putchar()
1. The printf function
• Used to send data to the standard output (usually the monitor) to be printed
according to specific format.
• General format:
1.printf(“string literal”);
• A sequence of any number of characters surrounded by double quotation
marks.
• E.g printf(“Thank you\n”); Thank you
The printf function cont…
2.printf(“format string”, variables);
• Format string is a combination of text, format specifier and escape
sequence.
• E.g printf (“Total sum is: %d\n”, sum);

Total sum is: 50

Assuming that the
value of sum is 50

• %d is a placeholder (format specifier)

– marks the display position for a type integer variable
– a common format identifier used in printf function.

• \n is an escape sequence
– moves the cursor to the new line
Placeholder / FORMAT Specifier
No Format Specifier Output Type Output Example
1 %d Signed decimal integer 76
2 %i Signed decimal integer 76
3 %o Unsigned octal integer 134
4 %u Unsigned decimal integer 76
5 %x Unsigned hexadecimal (small letter) 9c
6 %X Unsigned hexadecimal (capital letter) 9C
7 %f Integer including decimal point 76.0000
8 %e Signed floating point (using e notation) 7.6000e+01
9 %E Signed floating point (using E notation) 7.6000E+01
10 %g The shorter between %f and %e 76
11 %G The shorter between %f and %E 76
12 %c Character ‘7’
13 %s String ‘76'
 2. The scanf function
Reads data from the standard input device
(usually keyboard) and stores it in a variable.
General format:
 scanf(“format string”, &variable);
E.g scanf (“%d” , &a);

Ampersand (&) operator :

 it passes the address of the variable
 tells the scanf() where to find the variable to store the new value

 Format string is a combination of format specifier and

escape sequence (if any).
The scanf function cont…
• Common Format Identifier used in printf and
scanf functions.
printf scanf
int %d %d
float %f %f
double %f %lf
char %c %c
string %s %s
• Example :
int age;
printf(“Enter your age:”);
scanf(“%d”, &age);
The scanf function cont…
• If you want the user to enter more than one value,
you serialise the inputs.

• Example:

float height, weight;

printf(“Please enter your height and weight:”);

scanf(“%f%f”, &height, &weight);
getchar() and putchar()
• getchar() - read a character from standard
input
• putchar() - write a character to standard
output #include <stdio.h>
int main
• Example: {
char my_char;
printf(“Please type a character:”);
my_char = getchar();
printf(“\nYou have typed this character:
”);
putchar(my_char);
return 0;
} Please type a character: h
You have typed this character: h
30
getchar() and putchar() cont
• Alternatively, you can write the previous code using
normal printf / scanf and %c placeholder.
Example
#include <stdio.h>
int main
{
char my_char;
printf(“Please type a character: ”);
scanf(“%c”,&my_char);
printf(“\nYou have typed this character: %c”, my_char);
return 0;
}
Please type a character: h
You have typed this character: h
 A Simple C Program
1 /* A first program in C */
2 #include <stdio.h>
3
4int main()
5 {
6 printf( "Welcome to C!\n" );
7
8 return 0;
9 }
Welcome to C!

Comments
 Text surrounded by /* and */ is ignored by computer
 Used to describe program
#include <stdio.h>
 Preprocessor directive
Tells computer to load contents of a certain file
 <stdio.h> allows standard input/output operations
int main()
 Parenthesis used to indicate a function
 int means that main "returns" an integer value
 Braces ({ and }) indicate a block
The bodies of all functions must be contained in braces

printf( "Welcome to C!\n" );

 Instructs computer to perform an action
Specifically, prints the string of characters within quotes (“ ”)
 Entire line called a statement
All statements must end with a semicolon (;)
 Escape character (\)
Indicates that printf should do something out of the ordinary
\n is the newline character

return 0;
 A way to exit a function
 return 0, in this case, means that the program terminated normally

Right brace }
 Indicates end of main has been reached
 A Simple C Program

1 /* Addition program */
2 #include <stdio.h>
3
4 int main()
5 {
6 int integer1, integer2, sum; /* declaration */
7
8 printf( "Enter first integer\n" ); /* prompt */
9 scanf( "%d", &integer1 ); /* read an integer */
10 printf( "Enter second integer\n" ); /* prompt */
11 scanf( "%d", &integer2 ); /* read an integer */
12 sum = integer1 + integer2; /* assignment of sum */
13 printf( "Sum is %d\n", sum ); /* print sum */
14
15 return 0; /* indicate that program ended successfully */
16 }
OUTPUT

• Enter first integer

• 45
• Enter second integer
• 72
• Sum is 117
1 /* Using if statements, relational
2 operators, and equality operators */
3 #include <stdio.h>
4
5 int main()
6 {
7 int num1, num2;
10
11 printf( "Enter two integers, and I will tell you\n" );
12 printf( "the relationships they satisfy: " );
13 scanf( "%d%d", &num1, &num2 ); /* read two integers */
14
15 if ( num1 == num2 )
16 printf( "%d is equal to %d\n", num1, num2 );
17
18 if ( num1 != num2 )
19 printf( "%d is not equal to %d\n", num1, num2 );
20
21 if ( num1 < num2 )
22 printf( "%d is less than %d\n", num1, num2 );
23
24 if ( num1 > num2 )
25 printf( "%d is greater than %d\n", num1, num2 );
26
27 if ( num1 <= num2 )
28 printf( "%d is less than or equal to %d\n",
29 num1, num2 );
30
31 if ( num1 >= num2 )
32 printf( "%d is greater than or equal to %d\n",
33 num1, num2 );
34
35 return 0; /* indicates program ended successfully */
36}

Enter two integers, and I will tell you

the relationships they satisfy: 3 7
3 is not equal to 7
3 is less than 7
3 is less than or equal to 7

Enter two integers, and I will tell you

the relationships they satisfy: 22 12
22 is not equal to 12
22 is greater than 12
22 is greater than or equal to 12
 MORE ExampleS
#include <stdio.h>
// program prints a number of type int
int main()
{
int number = 4;
printf (“Number is %d”, number);
return 0;
}

Output: Number is 4
MORE ExampleS
#include <stdio.h>
// program reads and prints the same thing
int main()
{
int number ;
printf (“ Enter a Number: ”);
scanf (“%d”, &number);
printf (“Number is %d\n”, number);
return 0;
}

Output : Enter a number: 4

Number is 4
C Token
 Tokens are a series of continuous characters
that compilers treat as separate entities.

 Tokens can be classified into:

1. Reserved words (also known as keywords)
2. Identifiers
3. Constants
4. String Literal
5. Punctuators
6. Operators
Reserved Words
• Keywords that identify language entities
such as statements, data types, language
attributes, etc.
• Have special meaning to the compiler,
cannot be used as identifiers (variable,
function name) in our program.
• Should be typed in lowercase.
• Example: const, double, int, main, void,
printf, while, for, else (etc..)
Identifiers
• Words used to represent certain program
entities (variables, function names, etc).
• Example:
– int my_name;
• my_name is an identifier used as a program
variable
– void CalculateTotal
• CalculateTotal is an identifier used as a function
name
Rules for naming identifiers
Rules Example
Can contain a mix of characters and numbers. H2o
However it cannot start with a number

First character must be a letter or underscore Number1;

_area

Can be of mixed cases including underscore XsquAre

character my_num
Cannot contain any arithmetic operators R*S+T
… or any other punctuation marks… #@x%!!

Cannot be a C keyword/reserved word struct; printf;

Cannot contain a space My height
… identifiers are case sensitive Tax != tax
Constant example – volume of a cone
#include <stdio.h>

int main ()
{
const double pi = 3.412;
double height, radius, base, volume;

printf(“Enter the height and radius of the cone:”);

scanf(“%f %f”, &height, &radius);

base = pi * radius * radius;

volume = (1.0/3.0) * base * height;

printf(“\nThe volume of a cone is %f ”, volume);

return 0;
}
#define
• You may also associate constant using #define preprocessor directive

#include <stdio.h>
#define pi 3.142

int main ()
{
double height, radius, base, volume;

printf(“Enter the height and radius of the cone:”);

scanf(“%f %f”, &height, &radius);

base = pi * radius * radius;

volume = (1.0/3.0) * base * height;

printf(“\nThe volume of a cone is %f ”, volume);

return 0;
}
String Literal
• A sequence of any number of characters surrounded by double
quotation marks “ ”.
• Example of usage in C program:
printf(“What a beautiful day.\n”);

What a beautiful day.

• To have double quotation marks as part of the sentence,

precede the quote with backslash
printf(“He shouted \“stop!\” to the thief.\n”);

He shouted “stop!” to the thief.

Punctuators (separators)
• Symbols used to separate different parts of the C
program.
• These punctuators include:
[ ] ( ) { } , ; “: * #
#include <stdio.h>
• Example:
int main ()
{
int num = 10;
printf(“%d”,num);
return 0;
}