Introduction to C Language
C is a structured general purpose programming language. C Language was developed to rewrite the unix operating system. Earlier the unix operating system was written in B language. Almost the entire unix operating system and most of the programs run in it are written in C language.
The B language was written by Ken Thompson at Bell Laboratories in 1970. B was a type less language. C Language is, there was no concept of data types in B. B language could not achieve much popularity.
C language, that was developed by Dennis Ritchie in 1972 at bell laboratories. C is a type full language. C language provides many data types.
C was a very short and simple language. So in c language is a short time it became very popular and it started using other computer scientists as well.
There is no decrease in the popularity of C language even today. C language is taught before learning any other programming language. Because all the programming languages (C ++, Java, PHP, C # etc) came after C language, they have somehow adopted C's syntax.
- Versions of C Language
C is the most commonly used programming language of the time. It was developed in the 1970s.
C has been standardized until 1989 by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and since then by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
Many versions (standards) of C language have been released since inception.
K & R - This was the original C language version published by Brian Kernighan and Dennis Ritchie.
The first standard of C89 - C was published in 1989 by ANSI. It is known as ANSI C and C89.
C99 - A new standard of C was published by ISO in 1999. Some new built in data types, keywords, header files and libraries were added to it.
C11 - Another standard of C was published by ISO in 2007. New features such as type generic macros, anonymous structures and multithreading were added.
C11 is the most recent version in the list of versions above.
- Features of C Language
The reason for the popularity of C language is its features. These features make C language unique and powerful.
Structured
C is a structured programming language. In C, a program is created as small modules, which are called functions. By doing so, there is ease in managing and debugging programs and the big problem can also be easily solved.
Small
C provides 32 consecutive keywords. These keywords provide programmer control over the language. By understanding the use of these keywords, you can do programming in C language.
C language is small because it can be learned easily in a short time. Also, it is easy to use.
- Middle level
C is a middle level language. C is able to create both high level (very close to software) and low level (very close to hardware) applications.
This feature of C language is an advantage for programmers who want to create applications of both low and high levels. This feature makes the C language flexible
- Fast
C language is considered the fastest language after assembly language. It is also sometimes called low level language. C is close to hardware. Therefore it is faster than other programming languages. Processing of applications created in C language is fast.
- Case Sensitive
C is a case sensitive language. Capital and small variants of a letter are considered different in Case sensitive programming languages. This makes it easier for programmers to create identifiers.
- Extendable
C is an extendable programming language. In C programs, you can add and use libraries that you have created.
Limitations of C Language
Although C is a very powerful language, but C language has some shortcomings that make it limited.
No Run Time Type Checking
Run time type checking is not done in C language. C is not able to identify the type of any variable in the language run time.
Does Not Support Object Oriented Programming
C language does not support object oriented programming (classes, objects, interfaces, etc.)
- No Code Re-usability
C language does not support the reusability (inheritance) of the code.
- No Exception Handling
Exceptions in C language cannot be handled at run time. Like other modern programming languages, there are no keywords available in C for this purpose.
- Usage of C Language
C language, that is used to create all types of applications from high level to low level.
- Operating Systems
Operating systems can be created by C language. Most of operating systems are built in C language only. Operating systems such as unix, windows etc. have been created in C language itself.
- Compilers
Compilers are required to compile any new programming language. Compilers are also created in C language. For example, java compiler java is also built-in C lang.
- Assemblers
Many types of assemblers are also created in C language. Assemblers convert basic instructions to bits.
- Text Editors
Text editors can also be created by C language. Like gedit etc.
- Network drivers
Network drivers can also be created by on the C language.
Database Management Systems
Database management systems are also created on the C language. As such the Oracle database is written in C language itself.