C Language

Introduction to C Language:

                                        C is a computer programming language. It was designed by DENNIS RITCHIE in 1972 at AT&T(American Telephones and Telegraphs) BELL labs in USA.
                                        It is the most popular general purpose programming language. We can use the C language to implement any type of applications, System Software. These are Compilers, Editors, Drivers, Databases and Operating Systems.

                                        The Unix operating system and virtually all Unix applications are written in the C Language. C has now become widely used professional language for various reasons.
  • Easy to learn
  • Structured Language
  • It produces efficient programs.
  • It can handle low-level activities.
  • It can be compiled on a variety of computers.
                            

History of C Language:

                                        In 1960's COBOL was being used for commercial applications and FORTRAN is used for scientific and engineering applications. At this stage people started to develop a language which is suitable for all possible applications. Therefore an international committee was setup to develop such language "ALGOL 60" was released. It was not popular, because it seemed too general. To reduce these generality a new language CPL(Combined Programming Language) was developed  at Cambridge University. It has very less features. Then some other features were added to this language and a new language called BCPL(Basic Combined Programming Language) developed by "Martin Richards" at Cambridge University. Then "B" Language was developed by "Ken Thompson" at AT&T BELL Labs.
                                        DENNIS RITCHIE inherited the features of B and BPCL, added his own features and developed C language in 1972.


Features of C Language:

* C is a Structured Programming Language with fundamental flow control construction.
* C is simple and versatile Language.
* Programs written in C are efficient and fast. 
* C has only 32 keywords.
* C is highly portable programming language. The programs written for one computer can be run on another with or without any modifications.
* C has rich set operators.
* C permits all data conversions and mixed mode operations.
* Dynamic memory allocation(DMA) is possible in C.
* Extensive varieties of data types such as Arrays, Pointers, Structures and Unions are available in C.
* C improves by itself. It has several predefine functions.
* C easily Manipulates Bits, Bytes and Addresses.
* Recursive function calls for algorithmic approach is possible in C.
* Mainly we are using C Language to implement System Software. These are Compilers, Editors, Drivers, Databases and Operating Systems.
* C compiler combines the capability of an assembly level language with the features of high level language. So it is called as middle level language.


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