What are Programming Languages?Types of softwaresC IntroductionC HistoryC FeaturesC ApplicationsCharacter set, ASCII TableC Programming Language Standard
Turbo C++ editor installationExploring the Turbo C++ EnvironmentC Hellow world programHow a C Program ExecuteCompilation process in C
C #include statementC Displaying OutputC Reading input from the terminalC Data typesC VariablesC Variable Naming ConventionsC ConstantsC Identifiers & Naming RulesC LiteralsC CommentsC KeywordsC Type QualifiersC TokensC Format SpecifiersC Escape SequencesC preprocessorASCII value in CStatic in CWhat are Compiler ErrorsWhat are Compiler WarningsWhat are Linker ErrorsWhat are Runtime ErrorsWhat are Logical ErrorsCompile time vs RuntimeC program to displays your name  C - Basics Practice Test.1  C - Basics Practice Test.2  C - Basics Practice Test.3  C - Basics Practice Test.4  C - Basics Practice Test.5
C Arithmetic OperatorsC Assignment OperatorsC Relational OperatorsC Logical OperatorsC Increment & Decrement OperatorsC Conditional or Ternary OperatorC Bitwise OperatorsC Type CastingC Sizeof OperatorC Comma OperatorC Operators Precedence and AssociativityC ExpressionsC Evaluation of Expressions  C - Operators Practice Test.1  C - Operators Practice Test.2  C - Operators Practice Test.3
Input-Output Library FunctionsNon-Formatted Input and OutputCharacter Oriented Library FunctionsFormatted Library FunctionsMathematical Library Functions  C - Input-Output Functions Practice Test.1
C ifC if-elseC nested if-elseC if-else-ifC switch-caseC if vs switch-caseC LoopsC while loopC do-while loopC while vs do-whileC for loopC for vs WhileC Nested LoopsC Jump Control structuresC break statementC continue statementC goto statementC continue vs goto statementC return statementC goto vs return statement  C - Control Statements Practice Test.1  C - Control Statements Practice Test.2  C - Control Statements Practice Test.3
C FunctionsC Advantages of Using FunctionsC Function PrototypeC Basic Function DesignsC Programs Using FunctionsC ScopeC Local Variable and Global VariableWhy int main() return 03 Place to declare functionsC RecursionC Base Condition in RecursionC Iteration vs RecursionC Stack Overflow Error in RecursionC Nested functionsC Variable Length Number of ArgumentsC Parameter Passing – Call by value and Call by RefC Passing Strings to FunctionsImplementation of square() functionImplementation of factorial() functionImplementation of pow(x, n) functionImplementation of reverse(int) functionImplementation of countDigits(int) functionImplementation of palindrome(int) functionImplementation of primeNumber(int) function  C - Functions Practice Test.1  C - Functions Practice Test.2
What is Array?One dimensional ArrayAccessing element of 1D arrayReading and displaying elementsPrograms on 1D ArraysTwo Dimensional ArrayAccessing Element of 2D ArrayReading and Displaying ElementsPrograms on 2D ArraysPassing 1D arrays to FunctionsPassing 2D arrays to FunctionsThree Dimensional Array  C - Array Practice Test.1  C - Array Practice Test.2
Strings in CStoring StringsC The String DelimiterC String Literals (String Constants)C Strings vs. CharactersC Declaring and Initialization of StringsC Strings and the Assignment OperatorC String Input Functions / Reading StringsC String Output Functions / Writing StringsC fscanf() and fprintf() FunctionsC Single Character Library FunctionsC String Manipulation Library FunctionsC Programs Using Character ArraysC Array of StringsC Programs Using Array of Strings  C - Strings Practice Test.1  C - Strings Practice Test.2
Pointers in CUnderstanding Memory AddressesDeclare and Initialize Pointer VariablePointer Operators in Csizeof() Operator in CPointer Advantages and DisadvantagesDereferencing/Redirecting Pointer VariablesPointer Declaration versus RedirectionConst Pointer in CVoid Pointer in CNull Pointer in CC Pointer CompatibilityArray of PointersPointer to PointerPointer ArithmeticC Functions Returning PointersC Pointer to FunctionPointers and One-Dimensional ArrayPointers and Two-Dimensional ArrayPointers and StringsDynamic Memory Allocation Functions  C - Pointers Practice Test.1  C - Pointers Practice Test.2  C - Pointers Practice Test.3
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C Programming Language Standard

As of my last knowledge update in September 2021, the most recent version of the C programming language standard was C17, also known as C18. However, it's possible that a newer version of the standard has been released since then, so I recommend checking the latest documentation and resources for the most up-to-date information.

Here's a brief overview of some of the major C language standards:

  1. ANSI C (C89/C90):
    • Published in 1989 by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
    • Also known as C90 because it was adopted by the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) as ISO/IEC 9899:1990.
    • This is one of the earliest standardized versions of the C language.
  2. C99:
    • Published in 1999 as ISO/IEC 9899:1999.
    • Introduced several new features and improvements, including inline functions, variable-length arrays, and support for complex numbers.
    • Widely adopted by many C compilers.
  3. C11:
    • Published in 2011 as ISO/IEC 9899:2011.
    • Also known as C11 because it was released in 2011.
    • Added features like multi-threading support, type-generic macros, and improved Unicode support.
  4. C17/C18:
    • Published in 2018 as ISO/IEC 9899:2018, but it is often referred to as C17 or C18.
    • This version mainly focused on bug fixes and clarifications to the C11 standard.
    • It did not introduce many new features but aimed to improve the existing standard.

C language standards are developed and maintained by committees of experts, and they go through a formalized process to ensure consistency and compatibility across different compilers and platforms. When writing C code, it's essential to be aware of the specific standard that your compiler supports, as different compilers may support different versions of the standard. Always refer to the documentation of your compiler for details on the supported C standard and any compiler-specific extensions or features. Additionally, it's a good practice to write code that adheres to the lowest common standard supported by your target environments to ensure maximum portability.

Advantages of C

The C programming language has been widely used for several decades and continues to be a popular choice for various applications. Here are some of the key advantages of C:

  1. Portability:
    C programs can be written to be highly portable, meaning they can be compiled and run on different platforms with minimal or no modifications. This portability is one of the reasons why C is often used in developing operating systems and embedded systems.
  2. Efficiency:
    C provides low-level access to memory and hardware resources, allowing programmers to write highly efficient and fast code. This is crucial for system-level programming, real-time applications, and performance-critical software.
  3. Wide Range of Applications:
    C is a versatile language used in a wide range of applications, including operating systems, device drivers, embedded systems, game development, scientific simulations, and more. Its versatility makes it a valuable choice for many domains.
  4. Large Standard Library:
    C comes with a standard library that provides a set of functions for common tasks, such as file I/O, string manipulation, and math operations. This library simplifies programming and reduces the need to reinvent the wheel.
  5. Strong Community and Resources:
    C has a large and active user community, which means there is a wealth of documentation, tutorials, libraries, and open-source projects available to support C programmers. This community can be a valuable resource for learning and troubleshooting.
  6. Low-Level Memory Manipulation:
    C allows for precise control over memory management, including dynamic memory allocation and deallocation. This level of control is important for optimizing memory usage and avoiding memory leaks.
  7. Compatibility:
    C code can often be easily integrated with code written in other languages, such as C++, allowing for legacy code to be maintained and extended without a complete rewrite.
  8. Support for Systems Programming:
    C is well-suited for systems programming tasks, where direct control over hardware and memory is necessary. This is why it is commonly used for developing operating systems, device drivers, and embedded systems.
  9. Stable and Well-Established:
    C has a long history of use and development, making it a stable and reliable choice for software development. Bugs and issues have been identified and addressed over many years.
  10. Learning Curve:
    C's syntax and core concepts are relatively simple and straightforward, making it a good language for beginners to learn fundamental programming concepts. Once you understand C, transitioning to other languages becomes easier.

It's important to note that while C has many advantages, it may not always be the best choice for every project. Modern languages like Python, Java, and C++ offer different advantages and may be more suitable for specific use cases. The choice of programming language should be based on the requirements of the project and the goals of the development team.

Disadvantages of C

While the C programming language has many advantages, it also has some disadvantages that developers need to consider when choosing a language for a particular project. Here are some of the disadvantages of C:

  1. Lack of Modern Abstractions: C is considered a low-level language, and it lacks some of the high-level abstractions found in more modern programming languages like C++, Java, or Python. This can make certain programming tasks more complex and error-prone.
  2. Manual Memory Management: C requires manual memory allocation and deallocation using functions like malloc and free. This can lead to memory leaks, buffer overflows, and other memory-related bugs if not done correctly.
  3. No Built-in Object-Oriented Programming: C is not an object-oriented programming (OOP) language, which means it doesn't have built-in support for features like classes and inheritance. This can make it less suitable for large-scale software projects where OOP principles are beneficial.
  4. Lack of Standard Libraries for High-Level Tasks: While C has a standard library, it may lack high-level abstractions for tasks common in modern software development, such as GUI development or networking. Developers often need to rely on third-party libraries for such tasks.
  5. Unsafe for Inexperienced Programmers: C provides a high degree of control over memory and hardware, but this can lead to unsafe coding practices, especially among inexperienced programmers. This can result in security vulnerabilities and hard-to-debug issues.
  6. Portability Challenges: While C is designed to be portable, writing truly portable code across different compilers and platforms can be challenging. Variations in compiler implementations and hardware can lead to non-portable code.
  7. Verbose Syntax: C's syntax can be verbose compared to more modern languages, which can make code harder to read and maintain. Developers need to write more lines of code for common tasks.
  8. Limited Standard Library: Although C's standard library is comprehensive for many tasks, it doesn't include high-level abstractions and features commonly found in languages like Python or Java. Developers may need to write more code from scratch or rely on external libraries.
  9. Lack of Memory Safety: C does not offer memory safety features like automatic bounds checking, leading to potential buffer overflows and other memory-related vulnerabilities if not carefully managed.
  10. Debugging Complexity: Debugging C code can be challenging, especially when dealing with pointer-related issues or memory corruption. Debugging tools are available, but they may require more expertise to use effectively.
  11. Learning Curve: C has a steeper learning curve compared to some other programming languages, particularly for beginners. Understanding low-level concepts like pointers and memory management can be initially difficult.
  12. Less Expressive: C can be less expressive than higher-level languages, requiring more effort to achieve the same functionality. This can lead to longer development times.

Despite these disadvantages, C remains a valuable programming language in many contexts, particularly for system-level programming, embedded systems, and performance-critical applications. The choice of whether to use C or another language should be based on the specific requirements and constraints of the project at hand.

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