Introduction to C
Dr. Sheak Rashed Haider Noori
Associate Professor & Associate Head
Department of Computer Science
C – Language History
The C language is a structure oriented programming language, developed at
Bell Lab (AT&T) in 1972 by Dennis Ritchie
C language features were derived from an earlier language called “B” (Basic
Combined Programming Language – BCPL)
C language was invented for implementing UNIX operating system
In 1978, Dennis Ritchie and Brian Kernighan published the first edition “The
C Programming Language” and commonly known as K&R C
In 1983, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) established a
committee to provide a modern, comprehensive definition of C. The resulting
definition, the ANSI standard, or “ANSI C”, was completed late 1988.
C language standards
C89/C90 standard – First standardized specification for C language was
developed by the American National Standards Institute in 1989. C89 and
C90 standards refer to the same programming language.
C99 standard – Next revision was published in 1999 that introduced new
features like advanced data types and other changes.
Features of C language
Reliability
Portability
Flexibility
Modularity
Efficiency and Effectiveness
Uses of C language
The C language is used for developing system applications that
forms a major portion of operating systems such as Windows,
UNIX and Linux. Below are some examples of C being used.
Database systems
Graphics packages
Word processors
Spreadsheets
Operating system development
Compilers and Assemblers
Network drivers
Interpreters
C is Middle Level Language
There are following reason that C is called Middle Level
Language as:
C programming language behaves as high level language through
function, it gives a modular programming and breakup, increased the
efficiency for resolvability.
C programming language support the low level language i.e.
Assembly Language.
C language also gives the facility to access memory through pointer.
Its combines the elements of high-level languages with the
functionalism of assembly language.
So, C language neither a High Level nor a Low level language but
a Middle Level Language.
The C language is a structured
language
Key points to remember in C
language
The C language is structured, middle level programming language developed
by Dennis Ritchie
Operating system programs such as Windows, Unix, Linux are written in C
language
C89/C90 and C99 are two standardized editions of C language
C has been written in assembly language
C language tutorial reference E-
books & research papers
[ANSI 89] American National Standards Institute, American National Standard
for Information Systems Programming Language C, X3.159-1989.
[Kernighan 78] B. W. Kernighan and D. M. Ritchie, The C Programming
Language, Prentice-Hall: Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1978. Second edition, 1988.
[Thinking 90] C* Programming Guide, Thinking Machines Corp.: Cambridge
Mass., 1990.
