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Coe 251 Unit 1

This document introduces the C programming language. It discusses what a program and algorithm are, and compares different programming languages. It also explains key concepts in C like variables, data types, constants, and input/output functions. The document provides examples of simple C programs to demonstrate basic syntax like declarations, assignments, comments, and output statements.

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71 views23 pages

Coe 251 Unit 1

This document introduces the C programming language. It discusses what a program and algorithm are, and compares different programming languages. It also explains key concepts in C like variables, data types, constants, and input/output functions. The document provides examples of simple C programs to demonstrate basic syntax like declarations, assignments, comments, and output statements.

Uploaded by

Joseph A-c
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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COE 251

Introducing the C Programming


Language
UNIT 1

J. Yankey
[email protected]// 0264665015
Jan 2014
Introducing the C Programming
language
Programming and Problem Solving
-From Problem to Solution

• What is a
program?

• What is an
algorithm?
Programming Languages

• A vocabulary and set of grammatical rules for instructing a computer to perform


specific tasks.
• A program is written as a series of human understandable computer instructions
• A programming language is like any other language:
• You need to learn the grammatical rules (syntax)

• You need to learn the meaning of words and how to use them (keywords)

• You cannot learn all the words of a language at a go (I think).

• There are different ways of saying the same thing.

• You need to understand a language to act on what is being said. (compiler)


Programming Language levels of abstraction

FOURTH GENERATION LANGUAGE

HIGH-LEVEL LANGUAGE

LOW LEVEL LANGUAGE (ASSEMBLY)

MACHINE LANGUAGE (CPU Specific)

HARDWARE
• Why do we have to invent another language like C to learn
programming?

• Why not use a language we already know.


• Like Twi or Ga or Hausa
Comparing Programming Languages – September 2014
Popularity Job Vacancies Popularity and Jobs

1. C PHP Java

2. Java Java C language

3. Objective C Objective C C++

4. C++ SQL C#

5. C# Android (java) Objective C

6. PHP Ruby PHP

7. Visual Basic Javascript Python

8. Python C# Ruby

9. Perl C++

10. Ruby Action Script

11. Python

12. C
How does the computer know the rules of the
language?
• The Backus-Naur Form
• Sentence = Subject Verb Object
• Subject = Noun
• Object = noun
• Verb = love
• Verb = eat
• Noun = I
• Noun = Adwoa
• Noun = C Programming
• (Replace all non-terminals until we are left with only terminals)
Grammar for C expressions

• Expression = Expression operator Expression


• Expression = number

• …. (will continue in next 2 lessons)


Into the C language - A simple program
CODE BLOCK
#include <stdio.h>
main()
{
int num1, num2, num3; //declare variables
printf("Enter first number:");
scanf("%d", &num1);
printf("Enter second number:");
scanf("%d", &num2);
num3 = num1 + num2; //add the two numbers
/*show output to the user*/
printf("The sum of %d and %d is %d", num1, num2, num3);

}
('pagecreate', '#wrapper_question'

CODE BLOCK • A C program basically consists of the following


#include <stdio.h>
main() parts:
{ • Preprocessor Commands
int num1, num2, num3; //declare
variables • Functions
printf("Enter first number:");
scanf("%d", &num1); • Variables
printf("Enter second number:"); • Statements & Expressions
scanf("%d", &num2);
num3 = num1 + num2; //add the two • Comments
numbers
/*show output to the user*/ • Can you explain the code one line at a time?
printf("The sum of %d and %d is %d",
num1, num2, num3);
}
Identifiers
A C identifier is a name used to identify a variable, function, or any user-defined
item.
1. An identifier must start with a letter A to Z or a to z or an underscore _
2. Identifier can be followed by zero or more letters, underscores and digits (0-9)
3. C does not allow punctuation characters [@,#,%,&,…] within identifiers
4. C is a case sensitive programming language

cars zara abc new_data a_123 kofi50


j _temp cx200b retVal
2database cars@ 9_variable
Keywords

• The following list shows the reserved words in C. These reserved


words may not be used as constant or variable or any other identifier
names.
Variables

• A variable is a name given to a storage area that our programs can


manipulate.

• Each variable in C has a specific type which determines:


• The size and layout of the variable's memory

• The range of values that can be stored within that memory

• The set of operations that can be applied to the variable.


DATA TYPES AND VARIABLES
Data Types
Declarations and Assignments
• Every variable in a C program must be declared before it is used.
• When you declare a variable you are telling the compiler—and, ultimately, the
computer—what kind of data you will be storing in the variable.

SYNTAX
type_name variable_name_1, variable_name_2, . . .;

EXAMPLE
int count, numberOfStudents, number_of_people;
double average;

• Use simple but unambiguous names.


• Which is better: x = y * z or distance = speed * time?
• The most direct way to change the value of a variable is to use an
assignment statement.
• An assignment statement always consists of a variable on the left-
hand side of the equal sign and an expression on the right-hand side.
• The expression on the right-hand side of the equal sign may be a
variable, a number, or a more complicated expression.
Assignment Statements
In an assignment statement, first the expression on the right-hand side of the equal sign
is evaluated and then the variable on the left-hand side of the equal sign is set equal to
this value.
SYNTAX
Variable = Expression;
EXAMPLES
distance = rate * time;
count = count + 2;

• Assignments may be made during variable declarations.


• What is assignment compatibility?
Constants
• Constants (literals) refer to fixed values that the program may not alter during its
execution.
• There are two simple ways in C to define constants:
1. Using #define preprocessor.
2. Using const keyword.

SYNTAX
#define identifier value
const type variable = value;
EXAMPLE
#define LENGTH 10
const int LENGTH = 10;

• Why use a constant when you could use a variable?


Character and string literals
• Character literals are enclosed in single quotes, e.g., 'x' and can be
stored in a simple variable of char type.
• A character literal can be a plain character (e.g., 'x'), or an escape
sequence (e.g., '\t').
• Certain characters in C when preceded by a backslash will have
special meaning. Examples are the newline (\n) or tab (\t).
• String literals or constants are enclosed in double quotes "". A string
contains characters that are similar to character literals: plain
characters, escape sequences, etc.
WHAT IS THE OUTPUT?
1.
#include <stdio.h>
main()
{
printf("Hello\tWorld\n\n");
}

2.
#include <stdio.h>
#define LENGTH 10
#define WIDTH 5
#define NEWLINE '\n'
main()
{
int area;
area = LENGTH * WIDTH;
printf("value of area : %d", area);
printf("%c", NEWLINE);
}
WHAT IS THE OUTPUT?
3.
#include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
const int LENGTH = 10;
const int WIDTH = 5;
const char NEWLINE = '\n';
int area;

area = LENGTH * WIDTH;


printf("value of area : %d", area);
printf("%c", NEWLINE);

return 0;
}
Thank You

For any concerns, please contact


[email protected]
[email protected]
0322 191132
Jan 2014

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