Introduction to C Programming Language

Introduction to C Language

C is a High level, General purpose programming language which was initially used for system development work. It was accepted as a system development language because it generates the code that runs almost as fast as the code written in assembly language. C is a:

• Procedural language
• Structured Language
• High level Language
• Easy to learn
• It can be compiled on a variety of computer platforms.

Features of C

Let’s discuss the Features of C:-

History of C

The history of the C programming language is a fascinating journey that has significantly shaped the field of computer programming. Developed in the early 1970s, C has played a pivotal role in the evolution of software development, influencing countless programming languages and systems. Here’s a concise history of C:

Early Development (1960s – 1970s):

• C’s roots can be traced back to the ALGOL 60 programming language, which laid the foundation for many subsequent programming languages.
• In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Bell Labs (AT&T’s research division) began work on the Multics operating system. Dennis Ritchie, along with Ken Thompson and others, played a crucial role in its development.

Creation of C (1972 – 1973):

• Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs started working on creating a language that would facilitate system programming, while also being efficient and versatile.
• Ritchie’s work led to the creation of the C programming language, with the first edition of “The C Programming Language” book (also known as the “K&R C”) published in 1978.

Spread and Adoption (Late 1970s – 1980s):

• The Unix operating system, also developed at Bell Labs, was rewritten in C. This move greatly contributed to the spread and popularity of the language.
• C’s simplicity and portability made it an attractive choice for software development across various platforms.
• The ANSI C standardization process began in the early 1980s to create a standardized version of the language. This resulted in the ANSI C standard, published in 1989.

C++ Emerges (1980s – 1990s):

• In the 1980s, Bjarne Stroustrup extended C to create C++, an object-oriented extension of the language. C++ added features like classes, objects, and inheritance.
• C++ became widely used for application development, especially in areas such as video games and graphical applications.

Modern Developments (2000s – Present):

• C continues to be widely used for system programming, embedded systems, and low-level software development.
• The C99 standard, released in 1999, introduced several new features to the language, enhancing its capabilities.
• Despite the rise of newer programming languages, C’s performance, portability, and close-to-hardware nature have kept it relevant.