C Introduction

Structure of C Program:



Structure
Example Program
Documentation/Comment Section
/*Program to find perimeter of  a  circle */
Linkage/ Preprocessor directive /File Include Section
#include<stdio.h>
#define  PI  3.1415
User defined Function / Subprogram           prototype/Declaration Section
float perimeter();
Global Declaration Section
float radius, result;
Main Function Section
      Local Declaration Part
      Executable Code Part
void main( )
{
     float  p;
     printf(“ Enter radius :  “);
     scanf(“ %f ”, & radius);
     p = perimeter( );
     printf(“ Perimeter : %f ”, p);
}
User defined Function /Sub Program Definition/Implementation Section
Function 1(  )
       Local Declaration Part
       Executable Code Part
Function 2(  )
……………
Function N(  )
float perimeter( )
{
   result= 2 * PI * radius;
   return (result);
}

Documentation/ Comment Section: 

  

  Comments are represented with statements enclosed between /* and */. The statements specify the purpose of the program for better understanding. Any statements enclose within /* and */ are not executed by the compiler. This section is optional and if required can be used in any part of the program.

Linkage/ Preprocessor directive /File Include Section: 


  This section contains instructions which are processed before the compiler executes the program statements. There are two types of pre-processor directives namely File inclusion and Macro (constant) pre-processor directive

User defined Function / Subprogram Prototype/Declaration Section:


   This section serves the purpose of declaring user defined functions that can be used in the program.

Global Declaration Section: 


   Variables declared here for its type can be used till the end of the program and anywhere in the program.

Main Function Section:


   Every program should have a main function. Every C program execution begins from main function. The main function consists of Local Declarations and Executable statements.   For every program the above two parts should be enclosed in flower braces with { indicates the beginning of the main function and } indicates the end of the main Function.

Local variable declaration:


    Variables declared here for its type can be used only in the main( ) function.

Executable Statements:


   The statements can be an input or output or function call or assignment or return statement.    

User defined Function Implementation:

   Functions defined by the user. These are placed mostly after the main( ) function or above the main( ) function.

Tokens:


     The smallest possible individual valid units or components of a C- program are called Tokens. The Tokens in ‘C’ language are
         Key words / Reserved words, Identifiers, Constants, Operators, Strings, Comments

Comments:


•  Any set of statements enclosed within /* and */ are taken as comments.
•  These statements are not executed by the compiler.
•  These statements are given by the programmer to specify the purpose of the program or statement.
• These statements convey information for the programmer and others for proper understanding.
•  Comments are optional for a program and can be written anywhere in the program.
•  Example: /* welcome to programming */

     Key words/ Reserve words :


• These words have predefined meaning. The meaning of these words cannot be changed.
• All keywords must be written in small letters only  (except additional c99 keywords) and  no blank space allowed in keywords
• Keywords should not be used as variable / identifier names. 
• These words can be used  anywhere in the program.
• Examples: auto, break, case, char, const, continue, default, do, double, else, enum, extern, float, for, goto, if,  int, long, register, return, short, signed, sizeof, static, struct, switch, typedef, union, unsigned, void, volatile, while etc.    


Identifiers :


           It is the name given to identify a memory location(variable), function, structure, union, macro, label, array etc.,  There are two types of identifiers

Rules for declaring User defines Identifiers:


1. An identifier must consist of only alphabetic character , digits, and underscore.
2. First character must be alphabetic character or  under score and should not be a digit.
3. Second character onwards  can be alphabetic character or digit or under score.
4. Identifier name can be up to  31/63 characters depending on the system.( but the first 8 characters are  
      significant)
5. It cannot be same as  key word / reserved word.
6. May not have a white space or any other special symbol except under score.
7. An identifier defined in a C standard library should not be redefined.
8. C – language is Case-sensitive. So that, the variable name should be defined specifically to uppercase or
      lower case letters.

Examples for User defines Identifiers :


--Valid identifiers                       -- In Valid identifiers
Rollnumber, Name                           4you, Do  today,  #welcome
Subject1, marks                              auto, int      
College_name 
    
Note: Programmer should ensure that the name given for the identifier at the declaration , the same name should be used for every subsequent reference in the program.