Variables in C

In this tutorial, we will learn about variables in C language. We will cover the basics of declaring and using variables, including naming conventions.

What are Variables

Variables in C are used to store data values that can be manipulated during program execution. They have a data type that determines the kind of data they can hold, such as integers, characters, or floating-point numbers.

Naming Variables

When naming variables in C, follow these conventions:

  • Start with a letter (either uppercase or lowercase) or an underscore (_).
  • Subsequent characters can include letters, digits, or underscores.
  • Avoid using reserved keywords as variable names.
  • Use meaningful and descriptive names to enhance code readability.

Syntax

The syntax to declare variables in C is:

data_type variable_name;

Example 1: Variable storing Integer Value

  1. Declare an integer variable named num.
  2. Assign a value of 10 to the variable.
  3. Print the value of the variable.

C Program

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    // Declare and initialize an integer variable
    int num = 10;
    // Print the value of the variable
    printf("The value of num is: %d\n", num);
    return 0;
}

Output

The value of num is: 10

Example 2: Variable storing Character Value

  1. Declare a character variable named letter.
  2. Assign the character 'A' to the variable.
  3. Print the value of the variable.

C Program

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    // Declare and initialize a character variable
    char letter = 'A';
    // Print the value of the variable
    printf("The value of letter is: %c\n", letter);
    return 0;
}

Output

The value of letter is: A

Example 3: Variable storing Floating-Point Value

  1. Declare a floating-point variable named pi.
  2. Assign the value 3.14 to the variable.
  3. Print the value of the variable.

C Program

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    // Declare and initialize a floating-point variable
    float pi = 3.14;
    // Print the value of the variable
    printf("The value of pi is: %.2f\n", pi);
    return 0;
}

Output

The value of pi is: 3.14