Basic Syntax in C



In this tutorial, we will learn the basic syntax of C language. We will go through the key components of a simple C program.

C Program

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    printf("Hello, World!\n");
    return 0;
}

Output

Hello, World!

Basic Syntax of a C Program

  1. #include <stdio.h>
    This line includes the standard input-output header file. The stdio.h library contains functions for input and output operations, such as printf.
  2. int main()
    This line defines the main function where the program execution begins. The int keyword indicates that the function returns an integer value.
  3. {
    This opening brace marks the beginning of the main function's body.
  4. printf("Hello, World!\n");
    This line prints the string "Hello, World!" to the standard output (usually the screen). The \n is an escape sequence that adds a new line after the text.
  5. return 0;
    This line ends the main function and returns the value 0 to the calling process. In C, returning 0 typically indicates that the program executed successfully.
  6. }
    This closing brace marks the end of the main function's body.

Key Points to Remember

  • All C statements must end with a semicolon (;).
  • The main function is the entry point of a C program.
  • Comments can be added using // for single-line comments or /* ... */ for multi-line comments.
  • Code blocks are enclosed in curly braces {}.
  • Standard C libraries, like <stdio.h>, provide essential functionality for input and output operations.