Programming in C

Objectives

In this session, you will learn to:

Identify the benefits and features of C language Use the data types available in C language Identify the structure of C functions Use input-output functions Use constructs

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Programming in C
Identifying the Benefits and Features of C Language

Ken Thompson developed a new language called B. B language was interpreter-based, hence it was slow. Dennis Ritchie modified B language and made it a compiler-based language. The modified compiler-based B language is named as C.

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Programming in C
C as a Second and Third Generation Language

C language:
Possesses powerful low-level features of second generation languages. Provides loops and constructs available in third generation languages. Is very powerful and flexible.

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Programming in C
Block Structured Language - An Advantage for Modular Programming

C language:
Offers all essentials of structured programming. Has functions that work along with other user-developed functions and can be used as building blocks for advanced functions. Offers only a handful of functions, which form the core of the language. Has rest of the functions available in libraries. These functions are developed using the core functions.

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Programming in C
Features of the C Language

The features that make C a widely-used language are:

Pointers: Allows reference to a memory location by a name. Memory Allocation: Allows static as well as dynamic memory allocation. Recursion: Is a process in which a functions calls itself. Bit Manipulation: Allows manipulation of data in its lowest form of storage.

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Programming in C
Using the Data Types Available in C language

The types of data structures provided by C can be classified under the following categories:
Fundamental data types Derived data types

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Programming in C
Fundamental Data Types

Fundamental Data Types:

Are the data types at the lowest level. Are used for actual data representation in the memory. Are the base for other data types. Have machine dependent storage requirement. Are of the following three types: char int float

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Programming in C
Fundamental Data Types (Contd.)

The storage requirement for fundamental data types can be represented with the help of the following table.
Data char Number of bytes on a 32-byte machine 1 Minimum -128 Maximum 127

int
float

4
4

-2^31
6 digits of precision

(2^31) - 1
6 digits of precision

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Programming in C
Derived Data Types

Derived Data Types:

Are represented in memory as fundamental data type.

Some derived data types are:

short int long int double float

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Programming in C
Derived Data Types (Contd.)

The storage requirement for derived data types can be represented with the help of the following table.
Data Number of bytes on a 32-byte machine 2 Minimum Maximum

short int

-2^15

(2^15) - 1

long int
double float

4
8

-2^31
12 digits of precision

(2^31) - 1
6 digits of precision

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Programming in C
Defining Data

The syntax for defining data is:

[data type] [variable name],...;

Declaration is done in the beginning of a function. Definition for various data types is shown in the following table.
Data definition char a, c; char a = 'Z'; Data type char char Memory defined a c a Size (bytes) 1 1 1 Value assigned Z

int count;
int a, count =10; float fnum; float fnum1, fnum2 = 93.63;

int
int float float

count
a count fnum fnum1 fnum2

4
4 4 4 4 4

10 93.63

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Programming in C
Practice: 1.1

Write the appropriate definitions for defining the following variables:

1. num to store integers. 2. chr to store a character and assign the character Z to it. 3. num to store a number and assign the value 8.93 to it. 4. i, j to store integers and assign the value 0 to j.

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Programming in C
Practice: 1.1 (Contd.)

Solution:
1. int num; 2. char chr=Z; 3. float num = 8.93; 4. int i, j=0;

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Programming in C
Defining Data (Contd.)

Defining Strings:
Syntax: char (variable) [(number of bytes)]; Here number of bytes is one more than the number of characters to store. To define a memory location of 10 bytes or to store 9 valid characters, the string will be defined as follows: char string [10];

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Programming in C
Practice: 1.2

Write the appropriate definitions for defining the following strings:

1. addrs to store 30 characters. 2. head to store 14 characters.

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Programming in C
Practice: 1.2 (Contd.)

Solution:
1. char addrs[31]; 2. char head[15];

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Programming in C
Identifying the Structure of C Functions

In C language, the functions can be categorized in the following categories:

Single-level functions Multiple-level functions

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Programming in C
Single Level Functions

Single Level Functions:

Consider the following single-level function:
main() { /*print a message*/ printf("Welcome to C"); }

In the preceding function:

main(): Is the first function to be executed. (): Are used for passing parameters to a function. {}: Are used to mark the beginning and end of a function. These are mandatory in all functions. /* */: Is used for documenting various parts of a function.

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Programming in C
Single Level Functions (Contd.)

Semicolon (;): Is used for marking the end of an executable line. printf(): Is a C function for printing (displaying) constant or variable data.

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Programming in C
Practice: 1.3

Identify any erroneous or missing component(s) in the following functions:

1. man() { printf("This function seems to be okay") } 2. man() { /*print a line*/ printf("This function is perfect; }

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Programming in C
Practice: 1.3 (Contd.)
3. main() } printf("This has got to be right"); { 4. main() { This is a perfect comment line printf("Is it okay?"); }

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Programming in C
Practice: 1.3 (Contd.)

Solution:
1. man instead of main() and semi-colon missing at the end of the printf() function. 2. mam instead of main() and ) missing at the end of the printf() function. 3. } instead of { for marking the beginning of the function and { instead of } for marking the end of the function. 4. Comment line should be enclose between /* and */.

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Programming in C
Multiple Level Functions

The following example shows functions at multiple levels - one being called by another:
main () { /* print a message */ printf ("Welcome to C."); disp_msg (); printf ("for good learning"); } disp_msg () { /* print another message */ printf ("All the best"); }
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Programming in C
Multiple Level Functions (Contd.)

The output of the preceding program is:

Welcome to C. All the best for good learning.

In the preceding program:

main(): Is the first function to be executed. disp_msg(): Is a programmer-defined function that can be independently called by any other function. (): Are used for passing values to functions, depending on whether the receiving function is expecting any parameter. Semicolon (;): Is used to terminate executable lines.

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Programming in C
Practice: 1.4

Identify any erroneous or missing component(s) in the following functions:

a. print_msg() { main(); printf(bye); } main() { printf(This is the main function);} b. main() { /*call another function*/ dis_error(); } disp_err(); { printf(Error in function);}
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Programming in C
Practice: 1.4 (Contd.)

Solution:
a. main() is always the first function to be executed. Further execution of the program depends on functions invoked from main(). Here, after executing printf(), the program terminates as no other function is invoked. The function print_msg is not invoked, hence it is not executed. b. The two functions, dis_error() and disp_error, are not the same because the function names are different.

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Programming in C
Using the Input-Output Functions

The C environment and the input and output operations are shown in the following figure.

Standard Input Device (stdin)

Standard Output Device (stdout)

C Environment

Standard Error Device (stderr)

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Programming in C
Using the Input-Output Functions (Contd.)

These are assumed to be always linked to the C environment:

stdin - refers to keyboard stdin - refers to keyboard stdout - refers to VDU stderr - refers to VDU

Input and output takes place as a stream of characters. Each device is linked to a buffer through which the flow of characters takes place. After an input operation from the standard input device, care must be taken to clear input buffer.

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Programming in C
Character-Based Input-Output Functions

Character-Based Input-Output Functions are:

getc() putc() getchar() putchar()

The following example uses the getc() and putc() functions:

# include < stdio.h> /* function to accept and display a character*/ main () {char alph; alph = getc (stdin); /* accept a character */ fflush (stdin); /* clear the stdin buffer*/ putc (alph, stdout); /* display a character*/ }
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Programming in C
Character-Based Input-Output Functions (Contd.) The following example uses the getchar() and putchar() functions:
# include < stdio.h > /* function to input and display a character using the function getchar() */ main () { char c; c = getchar (); fflush (stdin); /* clear the buffer */ putchar (c); }

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Programming in C
Practice: 1.5

1.

Write a function to input a character and display the character input twice.

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Programming in C
Practice: 1.5 (Contd.)

Solution:

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Programming in C
Practice: 1.6

1.

Write a function to accept and store two characters in different memory locations, and to display them one after the other using the functions getchar() and putchar().

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Programming in C
Practice: 1.6 (Contd.)

Solution:
/* function to accept and display two characters*/ #include<stdio.h> main() { char a, b; a=getchar(); fflush(stdin); b=getchar(); fflush(stdin); putchar(a); putchar(b); }

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Programming in C
String-Based Input-Output Functions

String-based input-output functions are:

gets() puts()

The following example uses the gets() and puts() functions:

# include < stdio.h > /* function to accept and displaying */ main () { char in_str {21}; /* display prompt */ puts ("Enter a String of max 20 characters"); gets (in_str); /* accept string */ fflush (stdin); /* clear the buffer */ puts (in_str); /* display input string */ }
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Programming in C
Practice: 1.7

1. Write a function that prompts for and accepts a name with a maximum of 25 characters, and displays the following message.
Hello. How are you? (name)

2. Write a function that prompts for a name (up to 20 characters) and address (up to 30 characters) and accepts them one at a time. Finally, the name and address are displayed in the following way.
Your name is: (name) Your address is: (address)

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Programming in C
Practice: 1.7 (Contd.)

Solution:

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Programming in C
Using Constructs

There are two types of constructs in C language:

Conditional constructs Loop constructs

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Programming in C
Conditional Constructs

Conditional Constructs:
Requires relation operators as in other programming language with a slight change in symbols used for relational operators. The two types of conditional constructs in C are:
if..else construct switchcase construct

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Programming in C
Conditional Constructs (Contd.)
The Syntax of the if..else construct is as follows:
if (condition) { statement 1 ; statement 2 ; : } else { statement 1 ; statement 2 ; : }

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Programming in C
Practice: 1.8

1. Write a function that accepts one-character grade code, and depending on what grade is input, display the HRA percentage according to the following table.

Grade

HRA %

A
B C D

45%
40% 30% 25%

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Programming in C
Practice: 1.8 (Contd.)

Identify errors, if any, in the following function:

#include<stdio.h> /*function to check if y or n is input*/ main() { char yn; puts("Enter y or n for yes/no"); yn = getchar(); fflush(stdin); if(yn=y) puts("You entered y"); else if(yn=n') puts("You entered n"); else puts("Invalid input"); }
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Programming in C
Practice: 1.8 (Contd.)

Solution:

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Programming in C
Conditional Constructs (Contd.) Syntax of switchcase construct:
switch (variable) { case 1 : statement1 ; break ; case 2 : statement 2 ; : : break; default : statement }

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Programming in C
Practice: 1.9

Write a function to display the following menu and accept a choice number. If an invalid choice is entered then an appropriate error message must be displayed, else the choice number entered must be displayed. Menu 1. Create a directory 2. Delete a directory 3. Show a directory 4. Exit Your choice:

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Programming in C
Practice: 1.9 (Contd.)

Solution:

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Programming in C
Loop Constructs

The two types of conditional constructs in C are:

while loop construct. do..while construct. The while loop construct has the following syntax:
while (condition in true) { statement 1 ; statement 2 ; }

loop body

Used to iterate a set of instructions (the loop body) as long as the specified condition is true.

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Programming in C
Loop Constructs (Contd.)
The do..while loop construct:
The do..while loop is similar to the while loop, except that the condition is checked after execution of the body. The do..while loop is executed at least once. The following figure shows the difference between the while loop and the do...while loop.
while do while Execute Body of Loop

Evaluate Condition True Execute Body of Loop

False

Evaluate Condition True

False

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Programming in C
Practice: 1.10

1. Write a function to accept characters from the keyboard until the character ! is input, and to display whether the total number of non-vowel characters entered is more than, less than, or equal to the total number of vowels entered.

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Programming in C
Practice: 1.10 (Contd.)

Solution:

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Programming in C
Summary

In this session, you learned that:

C language was developed by Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie. C language combines the features of second and third generation languages. C language is a block structured language. C language has various features that make it a widely-used language. Some of the important features are:
Pointers Memory Allocation Recursion Bit-manipulation

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Programming in C
Summary (Contd.)

The types of data structures provided by C can be classified under the following categories:
Fundamental data types: Include the data types, which are used for actual data representation in the memory. Derived data types: Are based on fundamental data types.

Fundamental data types:

char, int, and float

Some of the derived data types are:

short int, long int, and double float

Definition of memory for any data, both fundamental and derived data types, is done in the following format:
[data type] [variable name],...;

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Programming in C
Summary (Contd.)

In C language, the functions can be categorized in the following categories:

Single-level functions Multiple-level functions

For standard input-output operations, the C environment uses stdin, stdout, and stderr as references for accessing the devices. There are two types of constructs in C language:
Conditional constructs Loop constructs

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