What is C Programming Language?

C is a high-level, general-purpose programming language that was created in the early 1970s by Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs.

It is known for being:

• Powerful

• Efficient

• Close to hardware

• A foundation for many modern programming languages

🛠️ Key Characteristics

• Procedural Language: Uses a step-by-step approach using functions.

• Compiled Language: Code is compiled into machine code for fast execution.

• Portable: Can run on many different types of computers with minimal changes.

• Low-Level Capabilities: Can directly access memory using pointers.

🔗 Why is C Important?

• It is used to build operating systems, device drivers, compilers, and embedded systems.

• Languages like C++, Java, Python, and Go were influenced by C.

• The Linux kernel, Git, and many game engines are written in C.

📦 Example: A Simple C Program

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    printf("Hello, World!\n");
    return 0;
}

🧩 What it does:

• Includes standard input/output library

• Defines the main function

• Prints “Hello, World!” to the screen

🚀 What Can You Do with C?

• Build operating systems

• Develop software for microcontrollers

• Create games

• Learn how computers manage memory and processes