What is C?

What is C?

C is a general-purpose programming language that has been around for over 50 years. It's fast, powerful, and still runs a huge chunk of the world.

Where did it come from?

C was born in the early 1970s at Bell Labs, created by Dennis Ritchie. It was built to write operating systems, and it's the language that the famous UNIX operating system was written in.

What is C used for?

• Operating systems (Linux, Windows kernels)
• Databases
• Compilers and interpreters
• Embedded software (the tiny computers in cars, TVs, and cameras)
• Game engines

The direct ancestor of C++

C and C++ are from the same family, and C++ was created as an extension of C. Almost all valid C code is also valid C++, though C has its own style and simpler feature set.

Compiled and fast

Like C++, C is a compiled language: the whole program is translated into machine code before it runs. That makes C programs very fast.

Why still learn C?

• It teaches how computers really think (memory, adbresses, pointers).
• It's the foundation of countless systems.
• It stays relevant in embedded, operating systems, and performance work.

TL;DR

• C is a half-century-old, general-purpose, compiled language.
• Created by Dennis Ritchie for building UNIX.
• Used in operating systems, embedded systems, and databases.
• It's the parent language of C++.
• Fast and close to the hardware.