Course Title: Mastering C: From Fundamentals to Advanced Programming

Section Title: Introduction to C and Development Environment

Topic: Basic C syntax: Variables, data types, and operators

In the previous topics, we explored the history and evolution of the C programming language and set up a development environment to start coding. In this topic, we will delve into the fundamental syntax of C programming and explore variables, data types, and operators.

Variables in C

Variables are names given to a location in memory that holds a value. In C, variables are declared before they can be used, and each variable has a specific data type that determines its size and behavior.

Declaring Variables

A variable is declared by specifying its data type followed by its name. Here is a simple example:

int myVariable;

In this example, myVariable is the name of the variable, and int is its data type.

Data Types in C

C has several built-in data types that are used to store different types of values. Here are some of the most common data types:

Note: The size of a data type may vary depending on the system architecture.

Initializing Variables

Variables can be initialized at the time of declaration or later in the code.

// Initializing a variable at declaration
int myVariable = 10;

// Initializing a variable later
int myVariable;
myVariable = 10;

Operators in C

Operators are used to perform operations on variables and values. C provides various types of operators:

1. Arithmetic Operators

   | Operator | Description | Example | |----------|-------------|---------| | + | Addition | a + b | | - | Subtraction | a - b | | * | Multiplication | a * b | | / | Division | a / b | | % | Modulus | a % b |

2. Assignment Operators

   | Operator | Description | Example | |----------|-------------|---------| | = | Assign | a = b | | += | Add and Assign | a += b | | -= | Subtract and Assign | a -= b | | *= | Multiply and Assign | a *= b | | /= | Divide and Assign | a /= b | | %= | Modulus and Assign | a %= b |

3. Comparison Operators

   | Operator | Description | Example | |----------|-------------|---------| | == | Equal to | a == b | | != | Not Equal to | a != b | | > | Greater than | a > b | | < | Less than | a < b | | >= | Greater than or Equal to | a >= b | | <= | Less than or Equal to | a <= b |

Practical Example

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    // Declare and initialize variables
    int a = 10;
    int b = 20;

    // Perform arithmetic operations
    int sum = a + b;
    int difference = a - b;

    // Use comparison operator
    if (a &gt; b) {
        printf("a is greater than b\n");
    } else {
        printf("a is less than or equal to b\n");
    }

    // Print results
    printf("Sum: %d\n", sum);
    printf("Difference: %d\n", difference);

    return 0;
}

Key Takeaways

• Variables are declared before they can be used and must have a specific data type.
• C has several built-in data types, including int, float, char, double, and bool.
• Operators are used to perform operations on variables and values.
• Arithmetic operators perform mathematical operations.
• Assignment operators assign values to variables.
• Comparison operators compare values.

What to Expect Next

In the next topic, 'Writing your first C program: Hello, World!', we will put our knowledge of basic C syntax into practice by writing and executing our first C program.