C is one of the most foundational programming languages ever created. Developed at Bell Labs in the early 1970s, C has influenced nearly every modern programming language including C++, Java, Python, and JavaScript.
C gives you direct control over memory and hardware, making it the language of choice for operating systems, embedded systems, and performance-critical applications.
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
// Function declaration
int add(int a, int b);
void greet(const char* name);
int main() {
// Basic I/O
printf("Hello, World!\n");
// Variables
int x = 10, y = 20;
float pi = 3.14159;
char letter = 'A';
// Function calls
printf("Sum: %d\n", add(x, y));
greet("Alice");
// Pointer basics
int value = 42;
int *ptr = &value;
printf("Value: %d, Address: %p\n", *ptr, (void*)ptr);
return 0;
}
int add(int a, int b) { return a + b; }
void greet(const char* name) { printf("Hello, %s!\n", name); }