c-programming

Introduction to C Programming
Chapter 1.1

What is a program?
• A list of instructions.
• Written in a programming language (c, c++, java).
• Determines the behavior of a machine
(computer, robot).

Programming Language
• A machine language that has its own set of
grammatical rules.
• It is used to instruct a machine to perform
specific tasks.

History
• C was developed in 1972 by Dennis Ritchie at
Bell Laboratories.
• Based on a programming language called B
(which is derived from BCPL language).
• C was designed and developed for the
development of UNIX operating system.
• C has been widely used to develop many type
of application software from a basic to
operating system.

Development stages of C program

Editing
• Process of writing the C source code.
• Using editor program (i.e. vi and emacs for
Linux, Notepad for Windows)
• Software package provides programming
environment
– Integrated editor
– Managing and maintaining source code
– i.e. C++ Builder, Code::Blocks, Dev-C++, Microsoft
Visual Studio

Pre-processing and Compiling
• Pre-processing – performs directives such as
inclusion of header files and substitution.
• Compiling – process of translating the source
code (programming language) to machine
code (machine language).

Linking
• Process of combining generated object files.
• Add required codes from C standard library.
• Produce an executable file.

Executing
• Run the program to check whether it produce
the desired output.
• Testing stage where you check the output of
your program.
• The program does not produces the suppose
output, then you have made logic (semantic)
error.

C Program Layout
• C program consists of two sections:
– Pre-processor directives
– Main function
pre-processor directives
main()
{
statements
}
Pre-processor section
Main function section

Pre-processor Directives
• Specify what compiler should do before
compilation.
• Include header files.
• Header file keep information about the library
functions (printf, scanf).
• Pre-processor directives begins with the #
symbol.

Main Function
• The program starts its execution.
• Define the program definition.

An Example of C Program
Sample output:
C program example

• A comment, not actually part of the program.
• Provide information on what the program
does.
• Begin with /* and end with */ or written
as //.
• Good habit to include comments.
• Keep inform what are the code actually doing.

• Important line in C
• Symbol # indicates that this is a pre-processor
directive
• Include stdio.h header file in our program
• stdio.h contains information on
input/output routines.
• We are using the printf() function from
stdio.h

• Defines the start of the function main().
• Keyword int signifies main function returns
an integer value.
• The () is where we specify information to be
transferred to function main().

• The portion that begins with { and ends
with } is called block or body.
• Within the block is where we write the
statements.

• Function printf() instructs the computer
to display characters or a string enclosed by
the double quotes on the monitor screen.
• A string is a combination of numerous
characters.

• Function main() is defined to return a value
of integer type.
• return 0 is needed to indicate that the
program has terminated successfully.

Flow Chart
• Combination
flow

Exercise
Draw a flowchart to solve below problem:
Prepare cupcakes. Ingredients are flour, yeast,
and sugar. Make sure you taste the dough
before baking process.
Find solution to calculate the average marks for
100 of student. Then, display the average
value.

Variables, Keywords and
Operators
Chapter 1.2

• Every variable has name, type and value.
• Variable name / Identifier :
 Must start with character or underscore ( _ ), cannot
start with number or symbol and not a keyword .
 Must not include any space and it is letter case
sensitive.
 Eg: stud1, Stud1, stud_name, _student (valid)
@stud, stud name, 1stud (invalid)
• Variable type :
 Based on the data type – integer, floating point
numbers and characters.
 The value can be change any time.
 Whenever a new value is placed into a variable, it
replaces the previous value.
Variables

• Variable must be declare / initialize before it can be used
in the next line of statements.
• Variable declaration :
 To declare a variable with a name and suitable data
type.
 Eg: int student; int staff;
double x, y;
• Variable initialization :
 To declare a variable and assign a certain value to
the varible.
 Eg: int student=5; int staff=1;
double x=1.12;
double y=9.999;
Variables

• Integer:
 Whole number (decimal).
 Positive, negative or zero : 25, 0, -9.
 Variable declaration: int x;
• Floating point numbers:
 double / float
 Variable declaration: double y;
float z;
• Characters:
 A character is a single letter, digit, symbol or space. Eg:
‘m’,‘B’,‘#’,‘3’,‘=’,‘@’,‘ ’.
 A string is series of characters .
Eg: “student” ,“F#”,“$35”,
“class_93”,“ALI BABA”.
Data Types

• Special words reserved for C.
• Cannot be used as variable names.
• Eg: data types (int,void,const,static)
instruction statements (if,for,case,
break,return,include)
Keywords

• Constant name is declared just like variable name.
• Constant value cannot be changed after its declaration.
• 2 ways for constant declaration :
 const double pi = 3.147; or
 #define pi 3.147
Constants

• To assign a value to a variable.
• Is a binary operator (at least has two operands).
• Variable that receiving the value is on the left.
• Eg: int num;  num
(in memory)
num=3; 
• num is assigned to value of 3.
• Arithmetic operation  c = a + b
• Multiple assignment  x = y = z = 7
• Compound assignment  +=,–=,*=,/=,%=
 sum += 5
sum = sum+5
Assignment Operator
3

• x % y produces remainder when x / y.
• Eg: 5/3=1,5%3=2.
Arithmetic Operators
Operators Symbol
Addition +
Substraction -
Multiplication *
Division /
Modulus %

• Used to compare numerical values .
Operator Symbol
Less than <
Less than or equal to <=
Greater than >
Greater than or
equal to
>=
Equal to ==
Not equal to !=
Relational Operators
Also
known as
Equality
Operators

Expression Value
!1 0
!0 1
Expression Value
0 && 0 0
0 && 1 0
1 && 0 0
1 && 1 1
Expression Value
0 || 0 0
0 || 1 1
1 || 0 1
1 || 1 1
Operators Symbol
NOT !
AND &&
OR ||
Logical Operators

• Increment operator  ++
 add 1
• Decrement operator  --;
subtract 1
• These operators can be used as prefix (+
+a/--a) or postfix (a++/a--).
• Prefix increase/decrease the operand
before it is used.
• Postfix  increase/decrease the operand
after it is used.
Increment and
Decrement Operators

• Example 1.2.1
int y,c,x;
y=5,c=1,x=3;
c++;
x+=2;
--y;
y=c++;
y=++x;
Increment and
Decrement Operators
5 1 3
5 2 5
4 2 5
2 2 5
6 3 6
5
y
1
c
3
x (in memory)

Highest Precedence
parenthesis,
logical op.
( ) !
arithmetic op. * / %
arithmetic op. + -
relational op. < <= > >=
equality op. == !=
logical op. &&
logical op. ||
Lowest Precedence
Operator Precedence

• Example 1.2.2
7 % 3 + 4 * 2 – (1 + 12) / 4
• Example 1.2.3
x > 5 || y < 7 && z != 2
let x=4 ,y =5,z=9.
Operator Precedence

• Example 1.2.2
7 % 3 + 4 * 2 – (1 + 12) / 4
= 7 % 3 + 4 * 2 – 13 / 4
= (7 % 3)+(4 * 2)–(13 / 4)
= 1 + 8 – 3
= 6
Operator Precedence

• Example 1.2.3
x > 5 || y < 7 && z != 2
let x=4 ,y =5,z=9.
– x > 5 returns False (0)
– y < 7 returns True (1)
– z != 2 returns True (1)
=(x > 5)||(y < 7)&&(z != 2)
= 0 || 1 && 1
= 0 || (1 && 1)
= 0 || 1
= 1
Operator Precedence

Input Output Operation
Chapter 2

Input Output Device
• Input devices are used to perform the input
operation.
• Eg: keyboard, mouse, microphone, scanner.
• Output devices are used to perform the
output operation.
• Eg: monitor, printer, speaker.

• Input operation in basic C programming is to
get input data from the keyboard using
scanf statement.
• While output operation is to display the data
at the monitor screen using printf
statement.

scanf
printf
get input data
from the
keyboard
display the
data at the
monitor

46
Formatting Output with printf
• printf
– Precise output formatting
• Conversion specifications: flags, field widths, precisions, etc.
– Can perform rounding, aligning columns, right/left justification,
inserting literal characters, exponential format, hexadecimal format,
and fixed width and precision
• Format
– printf( format-control-string, other-arguments );
– Format control string: describes output format
– Other-arguments: correspond to each conversion specification in
format-control-string
• Each specification begins with a percent sign(%), ends with
conversion specifier

47
Printing Integers
• Integer
– Whole number (no decimal point): 25, 0, -9
– Positive, negative, or zero
– Only minus sign prints by default

Conversion Specifier Description
d Display a signed decimal integer.
i Display a signed decimal integer. (Note: The i and d specifiers
are different when used with scanf.)
o Display an unsigned octal integer.
u Display an unsigned decimal integer.
x or X Display an unsigned hexadecimal integer. X causes the digits 0-9
and the letters A-F to be displayed and x causes the digits 0-9 and
a-f to be displayed.
h or l (letter l) Place before any integer conversion specifier to indicate that a
short or long integer is displayed respectively. Letters h and l
are more precisely called length modifiers.

49
Printing Floating-Point Numbers
• Floating Point Numbers
– Have a decimal point (33.5)
– f – print floating point with at least one digit to left of
decimal

Printing Strings and Characters
• c
– Prints char argument
– Cannot be used to print the first character of a string
• s
– Requires a pointer to char as an argument
– Prints characters until NULL ('0') encountered
– Cannot print a char argument
• Remember
– Single quotes for character constants ('z')
– Double quotes for strings "z" (which actually contains
two characters, 'z' and '0')

51
Printing with Field Widths and
Precisions
• Field width
– Size of field in which data is printed
– If width larger than data, default right justified
• If field width too small, increases to fit data
• Minus sign uses one character position in field
– Integer width inserted between % and conversion
specifier
– %4d – field width of 4

52
• Precision
– Meaning varies depending on data type
– Integers (default 1)
• Minimum number of digits to print
– If data too small, prefixed with zeros
– Floating point
• Number of digits to appear after decimal (e and f)
– For g – maximum number of significant digits
– Strings
• Maximum number of characters to be written from
string
– Format
• Use a dot (.) then precision number after %
%.3f

53
• Field width and precision
– Can both be specified
• %width.precision
%5.3f
– Negative field width – left justified
– Positive field width – right justified
– Precision must be positive
– Can use integer expressions to determine field
width and precision values

54
Printing Literals and Escape
Sequences
• Printing Literals
– Most characters can be printed
– Certain "problem" characters, such as the
quotation mark "
– Must be represented by escape sequences
• Represented by a backslash followed by an escape
character

55
• Table of all escape sequences
Escape sequence Description
' Output the single quote (') character.
" Output the double quote (") character.
? Output the question mark (?) character.
Output the backslash () character.
a Cause an audible (bell) or visual alert.
b Move the cursor back one position on the current line.
f Move the cursor to the start of the next logical page.
n Move the cursor to the beginning of the next line.
r Move the cursor to the beginning of the current line.
t Move the cursor to the next horizontal tab position.
v Move the cursor to the next vertical tab position.

scanf Statement
• Input operation in basic C programming is to
get input data from the keyboard using
scanf statement.
• While output operation is to display the data
at the monitor screen using printf
statement.

57
Formatting Input with Scanf
• scanf
– Input formatting
– Capabilities
• Input all types of data
• Input specific characters
• Skip specific characters
• Format
– scanf(format-control-string, other-arguments);
– Format-control-string
• Describes formats of inputs
– Other-arguments
• Pointers to variables where input will be stored
– Can include field widths to read a specific number of characters from
the stream

58
Formatting Input with Scanf
Conversion specifier Description
Integers
d Read an optionally signed decimal integer. The corresponding
argument is a pointer to integer.
o Read an octal integer. The corresponding argument is a pointer to
unsigned integer.
x or X Read a hexadecimal integer. The corresponding argument is a
pointer to unsigned integer.
Floating-point numbers
f Read a floating-point value. The corresponding argument is a
pointer to a floating-point variable.
Characters and strings
c Read a character. The corresponding argument is a pointer to
char, no null ('0') is added.
s Read a string. The corresponding argument is a pointer to an array
of type char that is large enough to hold the string and a
terminating null ('0') character—which is automatically added.

Exercise
What data types would you use to hold the
following data?
Customer name
Your house number
A price
Car registrations
The time
A six digit number
Write C statements to declare them all.

Selection Structure
Chapter 3.1

Introduction
• Ability to change the flow of program
execution.
• Allows the program to decide an action based
upon user's input or other processes.

if Selection Statement
• Primary tool of selection structure.
• The condition is TRUE – execute the
statement.
• The condition is FALSE – skip the
statement.

if Selection Statement
if ( condition )
Execute this statement if
condition is TRUE
i.e.
if (5 < 10)
printf("Five is less than ten");
• Evaluate the statement, "is five less than ten"

Example
Sample output:
Enter a number between -10 and 10: 6
6 is a positive number

if else Selection Statement
• Execute certain
statement if the
condition is false
• The condition is TRUE –
execute the statement A
• The condition is FALSE –
execute the statement B

if else Selection Statement
if ( condition )
Statement A;
else
Statement B;
i.e.
if ( 5 < 10 )
printf("Five is less than ten");
else
printf("Five is greater than
ten");

Example
Sample output:
Enter a number between -10 and 10: -2
-2 is a negative number

if else if Selection Statement
• Test additional conditions
• Works the same way as normal if statement

Example
Sample output:
Please enter your age: 58
You are old

More than one statement
• Multiple statements within selection structure
• Use braces { }
• Block of code
if ( condition ) {
Statement 1
Statement 2
…
Statement N
}

Nested if Selection Structure
• if within an if is called
nested if
if ( condition 1 )
Statement A;
if ( condition 2 )
Statement C;
else
Statement D;
else
Statement B;

Example
Sample output:
Enter a number between -10 and 10: 6
6 is a positive number
6 is an even number

switch Selection Statement
• Substitutes for long if statements
• Select from multiple options
• Consists of a series of case label sand optional
default case
• Compares the value of variable or expression
with values specified in each case

switch Selection Statement
switch (variable ){
case value 1:
Statement A;
break;
case value 2:
Statement B;
break;
...
default:
Statement N;
break;
}

Exercise
Write a program that asks the user to enter two
integers, obtains the numbers from the user,
then prints the larger number followed by the
words “is larger.” If the numbers are equal, print
the message “These numbers are equal.” Use
only the single-selection form of the if statement
you learned in this chapter.
Draw a flowchart for this task:-
Obtains two integer numbers from the keyboard,
and display which is larger of the two numbers.

Exercise
Using ‘switch’ and ‘case statement’, write a
program determine whether the number we
key in is odd or even and that print out
adjacent “*” sign same as that number.
(Example: For number 6, we will print out
****** ).

Repetition Structure
Chapter 3.2

Introduction
• What if we want to display numbers from 1 to
100?
• What if we want to repeat a thousand times of
10 statements?
• It is possible to do it, but it is not a convenience
and it would take a long time to complete
• Ability to specify repetition of compound
statements is as important in programming –
Loop

Introduction
• Two types of loop:
– Finite loop
– Infinite loop
• Finite (counter-controlled) loop is a repetition
in which it will continue looping until certain
condition is met
• Infinite loop has no certain condition in which
it will continue looping forever

Introduction
• Three requirements of defining a definite loop
1.counter initialization
2.increment of counter
3.loop condition
• while, do while and for loop

while Repetition Structure
• Allows the repetition of a set
of statements execution to
continue for as long as a
specified condition is TRUE
• When the condition becomes
false, the repetition
terminates

while Repetition Structure
while ( condition ) {
statements;
}
while ( a < b ) {
printf("a is less than bn");
}

Example
• Test the condition
• Execute statements within
while loop’s block
• Jump back to the top and re-
test the condition

Example
Sample output:
0
1
2
…
9

do while Repetition Structure
• Condition is tested at the end of
the block instead of at the
beginning
• Block will be executed at least
once

do while Repetition Structure
do {
statements;
} while ( condition );
do {
printf("a is less than bn");
} while ( a < b );

Example
• Execute statements within do
while loop’s block
• Jump back to the top and re-
execute statements

for Repetition Structure
• for loop combines the loop control
parameters into single statement
• Loop control parameters – variable
initialization, variable update and loop
condition

for Repetition Structure
for ( a; b; c ) {
statements;
}
• a (variable initialisation) is evaluated once only -
before entering the loop
• b (condition) determines whether or not the
program loops
• c (variable update) is evaluated after an iteration
of the loop – loop counter

Example
• Initializes count equals
to zero
• Execute statements
within for loop’s block
• Jump back to the top
and re-test the
condition

Nested Loop
• A loop within a loop
Loop1
Loop2
statement
return
return

Example
Sample output:
1 1
2 3
3 6

Infinite Loop
• Loops forever
• Contains no condition
• Condition that can never be satisfied

break and continue Statements
• Can be executed in while, do while and
for statement
• Used to alter the flow of control

Example
• Causes an immediate exit from that
statement

• Skip the remaining statements
• Performs the next iteration of the loop
Example

Exercise
Use a loop to produce the following output:
a) 12345678910
b) 3, 8, 13, 18, 23
c) 20, 14, 8, 2, -4, -10
Write a program that will display all odd
numbers between 1 to 40.

Introduction
• Mini-program where a group of statements
are executed.
• Programmer-defined functions.
• Break a large program into smaller sets of
statements according to their tasks.

Benefits of Function
• To make program more manageable
– divide-and-conquer approach (construct a
program from smaller components/modules.
• Software reusability
– reuse existing functions for new programs
• Avoid repeating code

3 Elements of Function
• Function definition
• Function prototype / declaration
• Calling function

Function Definition
• Specifies the specification of a function
– return value type, function name, arguments.
• Defines the operation to be performed when
a function is invoked.

Function Definition
return_value_type function_name(parameter_list)
{
statements;
}
function body
function header

Function Definition
return_value_type function_name(parameter_list)
{
statements;
}
 Specifies the type of the value returned by the function
 Data types of return value : int (default),char, float, double
 If function does not has any return value : void
o List of variable names received by the function from the caller –
arguments (data input)
o parameter_list : (parameter_type parameter name)
o parameter_type: int ,char, float, double
o If function does not has any parameter_list : (void) or ()

Function Prototype
• To declare function if the function definition is
written below the main function.
• Otherwise, no need function prototype.
(function definition above the main function)
• Almost similar with function definition header,
but must be written before the main function
with semicolon at the end of statement.

Function Prototype
return_value_type function_name(parameter_list);
 Specifies the type of the value returned by the function
 Data types of return value : int (default),char, float, double
 If function does not has any return value : void
o List of variable names received by the function from the caller –
arguments (data input)
o parameter_list : (parameter_type )
o parameter_type: int ,char, float, double
o If function does not has any parameter_list : (void) or ()

Calling Function
• Two ways to invoke/call function
– Call-by-value
– Call-by-reference.
• Calling function statement is written in the
caller function (main function).

Call-by-value VS Call-by-reference
Call-by-value
• Copies of the
arguments’ value are
made and passed to the
called function
• Changes to the copy do
not effect an original
variable’s value
• Available in C language
Call-by-reference
• References of
the arguments’
value are passed
to the called
function
• Called function
can modify the
original
variable’s value
• Possible to
simulate

Example 1
#include<stdio.h>
void function_name(void);
int main() {
statements;
function_name();
return 0;
}
void function_name(void) {
statements;
}
Function prototype
Function definition
Calling function

Example 2
#include<stdio.h>
double function_name(int,double);
int main() {
int p1, double p2;
statements;
function_name(p1,p2);
return 0;
}
double function_name(int pm1,double pm2) {
statements;
}
Function prototype
Function definition
Calling function

Example 3
Sample output:
Call-by-value
----------------------
Before func1 is called
n1 = 5
In func1
n1 = 10
After func1 is called
n1 = 5

Example 4
Sample output:
Enter base and power: 5 4
The result is 625.
function prototype
function definition
function call

Scope Variable
• Variables declared in function main() are
known only within function main() – not
accessible outside of the block
• It is applied to variables defined within a block
that is inside other block
• But variables defined in the outer block are
accessible in the inner block

Scope Variable
• Variable a is declared in
main()
• Variable b is declared
within while loop block
(inner block)
• a is the outer block
variable therefore it is
accessible within inner
block
• b is not accessible in the
outer block because it is
while loop variable

Scope Variable
num2 is not accessible in func()
num2 is considered undeclared in func()
num2 is accessible in main() only
num2 is declared in main()

Global Variable
• Variables declared outside any function is
called global variables
• Global variables are variables that can be
accessed in any function
• Normally they are declared before function
main()

Global Variable
num2 is a global variable
num2 is accessible in func()

Recursive Function
• Function that calls itself either directly or
indirectly through another function

Example 5
Sample output:
0! = 1
1! = 1
2! = 2
3! = 6
4! = 24
5! = 120

Exercise
• Write a program that utilizes a function with
parameters. The program reads 3 integer
numbers from the user and sends the 3 input
to the function. The function finds the
smallest value between the 3 integer numbers
and return the value to the main function.
Enter three inter numbers:
30
80
20
Smallest value: 20

Exercise
• Consider the following program, what is the
value of num1 and num2 after each statement
is executed?
num1 num2
2
1
1 3
1 7
1 21

num1 num2
1 void funcA(int);
2 int funcB(int);
3 int num2 = 2;
4
5 int main(void)
6 {
7 int num1 = 1;
8
9 num2 = funcB(num1);
10 funcA(num1);
11 funcA(num2);
12
13 return 0;
14 }
15 void funcA(int num1)
16 {
17 num1 = num1 + num2;
19 }
20 int funcB(int num1)
21 {
23 return num1;
24 }

Introduction
• A group of memory locations that have the
same name and the same type.
• Allows to store a sequence of values.

Introduction cont.• First element in an array is the
zeroth element, a[0]
• In the example to the right:_
Second element is a[1]= 6. Element
two is a[2]=11. Different way of
statement resulting in different
meaning!
• If b=2 and c=4, then
a[b+c] =a[b+c]+2;
a[2+4] =a[2+4]+2;
a[6] = a[6]+2;
a[6] = 10;

Defining and Initializing
of One Dimentional Array
• int a[5];
• int a[5] = {0}; //all elements equal zero
• int a[5] = {10, 20, 30, 40, 50};
• int a[5] = {10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60}; //error
• float a[5] = {1.1, 2.2, 3.3, 4.4, 5.5};
• char a[6] = {'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'};
Note: a[5] carries the value ‘/0’, more on
this later.

Input/Output
• Declare an integer array named a with 10 elements
int a[10];
• Input an integer into 6th
element
scanf("%d ", &a[5]);
• Output the content of 6th
element
printf("a[5] is %d.n ", a[5]);

Character Arrays
• Store characters
• Character arrays are capable of storing strings
• Revise: %c for characters ( eg. A, b, c, D )
%s for strings ( eg. hi, welcome, good )

Character Arrays
• char string[]="hello";
• Initializes the elements of array string to the
individual characters in the string “hello”
• string "hello" has 5 characters plus a special string
termination character called null character '0'

Character Arrays
char x[]={'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o', '0'};
• x[0] = 'h'
• x[1] = 'e'
• x[2] = 'l'
• x[3] = 'l'
• x[4] = 'e‘
• x[5] = '0'

Input/Output
• Declare a char array named string1 with 20 elements
char string1[20];
• Input a string into the array
scanf("%s", string1);
• Output the array’s content
printf("The content is %s.n",
string1);
• Function scanf will read characters until a space, tab,
newline or EOF is encountered

Passing Arrays to Functions
• Modify the elements in function body is
modifying the actual elements of the array

Cont.
int array[30]; //array declaration
void func(int array[]) {
… //function prototype
}
func(array) //call function
the passed array

Passing Elements to Functions
• Passing an individual array elements are like
passing a variable
• The actual value is not modified

Cont.
int array[30];
void func(int e) {
…
}
func(array[5])
the passed element
variable e copies the value of array element

Two Dimensional Array
• To represent table of values consisting of
information arranged in rows and columns

Defining and Initializing
• int a[2][3];
• int a[2][3] = {{1, 2, 3}, {2, 3, 4}};
1st
Row 2nd
Row

Exercise
• Write a program to print the values of each
element of a 3-by-2 array using nested loop..
Initialize the array as:
{12.0,14.2},{13.0,16.5},{10.5,11.0}

Introduction
• Pointers are variables whose values are
memory addresses
• A pointer contains an address of a variable
that contains a specific value

Introduction cont.
• Count directly
references a variable
that contains the value
5
• Pointer indirectly
references a variable
that contains the value
5 (indirection)
5
count
5
countPointer

Declaring and Initializing
• A pointer of type int is a
pointer to a variable
type int
• int y = 5;
• int *yPtr;
• yPtr = &y;
• & returns the address
of its operand
5
yyPtr
5
Location
60000
60000
Location
50000

Using Pointers
• * (indirection) operator returns the value of
the object a pointer refers to
• Assume y = 5
• yPtr = &y;
• z = *yPtr + 5;
• *yPtr = 7;
• z = *yPtr + 5;
• yPtr = &z;

Call-by-reference
• The original variable address is passed to the
function by using & operator.
• Ability to access the variables directly and to
modify them if required.

Example
num1 = 3 - before
Value returned: 9
num1 = 3 - after
num2 = 5 - before
num2 = 25 - after
& (address) operator is specified
a pointer
numRef = numRef * numRef

Pointers and Arrays
• Any operation that can be achieved by array
subscripting can also be done with pointers

Cont.
• bPtr = &b[0];
• bPtr+1 points to next element
• bPtr+i points i elements after
bPtr
• bPtr-i points i elements before
bPtr
• bPtr+i is the address of b[i]
• *(bPtr+i) is the content of b[i]
b
0 1 2 3 4
bPtr bPtr+1

Arrays of Pointers
• Since pointers are variables
• Can be stored in arrays
• Array of memory addresses

Pointers to Functions
• A pointer to a function contains the
address of the function
• Similarly, a function called through
a pointer must also passes the
number and type of the arguments
and the type of return value that is
expected

Exercise
• Consider the following statements, what is the
value of px and py after each statement is
executed?
px py
0 x 00FC24BB
0 x 00AACCDD
0 x 00EE58FA
0 x 00EE58FA

Given:
address x = 0 x 00FC24BB
address y = 0 x 00AACCDD
address z = 0 x 00EE58FA
px py
1 int x, y, z;
2 int *px, *py, *pz;
3
4 x = 5;
5 y = 10;
6 px = &x;
7 py = &y;
8 z = 15;
9 py = &z;
10 px = py

Opening a File
• FILE pointer which will let the program
keep track of the file being accessed
• FILE *fp;
• Function fopen use to open a file
• fp = fopen("filename", "mode");

Filename
• Use double backslashes rather than a
single backslash (in the case of string
literal)
– "c:test.txt" – t is considered as
escape sequence
– "c:test.txt" – correct way to specify
backslash

Modes
• r - open for reading
• w - open for writing
• a - open for appending

Example
• FILE *p1, *p2;
• p1 = fopen("data", "r");
• p2 = fopen("results", "w");

Closing a File
• A file must be closed as soon as all
operations on it have been completed
• fclose(p1);
• fclose(p2);

Get a character from file
• fgetc (file);
• Returns the character currently pointed by
the internal file position indicator of the
specified file

Example
• FILE *fptr;
• fptr = fopen("logfile.txt",
"r");
• char inpF;
• inpF = fgetc(fptr);

Get string from File
• fgets(char *str, int num, file);
• Reads characters from file until
– (num-1) characters have been read or
– a newline or
– End-of-File is reached
– whichever comes first.
• A null character is automatically appended
in str after the characters read to signal
the end of the C string.

Example
• FILE *fptr;
"r");
• char inpF[20] = " ";
• fgets(inpF, 20, fptr);

Write character to file
– fputc(int character, file);
– Writes a character to the file and advances the
position indicator

Example
• FILE *fptr = NULL;
"a");
• char outF = 'A';
• fputc(outF, fptr);

Write string to file
• fputs(const char * str, FILE * stream);
• Writes the string pointed by str to the file

Example
"a");
• char outF[20] = "Hello
Worldn";
• fputs(outF, fptr);

Read formatted data from file
• fscanf(file, fmt-control-string, var);
• Reads data from the file and stores them
according to the parameter format into
variables

Example
"r");
• char inpF[20] = " ";
• fscanf(fptr, "%s", inpF);

Write formatted output to file
• fprintf(file, fmt-control-string, var);
• Writes to the specified file a sequence of
data formatted as the format argument
specifies

Example
• fptr = fopen("logfile.txt", "a");
• int n = 1;
• char name[20] = "Muhammad";
• fprintf (fptr, "Name %d - %sn", n,
name);

c-programming

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