Structured Programming Notes PDF
Structured Programming Notes PDF
2. EXPRESSION – These are statements that return a value. Expressions combine variables and
constants to create new values or logical conditions which are either true or false e.g.
x + y, x <= y etc
8. SOURCE CODE – Program instructions in their original form. C source code files have an
extension .c
9. OBJECT CODE – Code produced by a compiler from source code and exists in machine
readable language.
10. EXECUTABLE FILE – Refers to a file in a format that a computer can directly execute and is
created by a compiler.
12. SIGNED INTEGER – This is an integer that can hold either positive or negative numbers.
13. COMPILER – This is a program that translates source code into object code.
14. PREPROCESSOR COMMAND - The C preprocessor modifies a source file before handing it
over to the compiler for instance by including header files with #include as I #include
<stdio.h>
15. LINKER/Binder/Link Editor – This is a program that combines object modules to form an
executable program. The linker combines the object code, the start up code and the code
for library routines used in the program (all in machine language) into a single file- the
executable file.
16. OPERATOR - A symbol that represents a specific action. For example, a plus sign (+) is an
operator that represents addition. The basic mathematic operators are + addition, -
subtraction,* multiplication,/ division
17. OPERAND - Operands are the objects that are manipulated by operators in expressions. For
example, in the expression 5 + x, x and 5 are operands and + is an operator. All expressions
have at least one operand.
18. EXPRESSION – This is a statement that returns a value. For example, when you add two
numbers together or test to see whether one value is equal to another.
19. VARIABLE - A variable is a memory location whose value can change during program
execution. Variable declaration must have a type, which defines what values that variable
can hold.
20. Data type – The data type of a variable etc determines the size and layout of the variable's
memory; the range of values that can be stored within that memory; and the set of
operations that can be applied to the variable.
21. CONSTANT - a constant is a value that never changes during program execution.
22. WHITESPACE - A line containing only whitespace, possibly with a comment, is known as a
blank line, and a C compiler totally ignores it.
Whitespace is the term used in C to describe blanks, tabs, newline characters and comments.
Whitespace separates one part of a statement from another and enables the compiler to identify
where one element in a statement, such as int, ends and the next element begins. Therefore, in
the following statement: int age;
There must be at least one whitespace character (usually a space) between int and age for the
compiler to be able to distinguish them. On the other hand, in the following statement
CHAPTER 1
A programming language is a vocabulary and set of grammatical rules designed for instructing a
computer to perform specific tasks.
To convert an assembly code program into object code to run on a computer requires an Assembler
and each line of assembly can be replaced by the equivalent line of object (machine) code:
Almost every CPU architecture has a companion assembly language. Most commonly used
assembly languages today are Autocoder for IBM mainframe systems, Linoreum, MACRO -11,etc.
Examples:
Most Modern General Purpose Languages such as C, C++, C#, Java, Basic, COBOL, Lisp and ML.
While 4GL are designed to build specific programs, 5GL are designed to make the computer solve a
given problem without the programmer. The programmer only needs to worry about what
problems need to be solved and only inputs a set of logical constraints, with no specified
algorithm, and the Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based compiler builds the program based on these
constraints
High-level languages are closer to human languages and further from machine languages.
The main advantage of high-level languages over low-level languages is that they are easier to read,
write, and maintain. Ultimately, programs written in a high-level language must be translated into
machine language by a compiler or interpreter.
The first high-level programming languages were designed in the 1950s. Now there are dozens of
different languages, including Ada, Algol, BASIC, COBOL, C, C++, FORTRAN, LISP, Pascal, and Prolog.
Compiled Languages VS Interpreted Languages
Compiled Languages
A program written in a compiled language is first translated to machine language by another
program called a compiler and outputs equivalent machine language to another file (the executable
file). The compiler parses/interprets each statement in the program and outputs an equivalent
sequence of machine or assembly instructions.
Interpreted Languages
A program written in an interpreted language is never translated to machine language. Instead, the
program is interpreted and executed by another program called an interpreter.
Like a compiler, an interpreter parses each statement in the source program, but instead of
translating it to machine language, it simply executes the statement as soon as it determines its
meaning.
• They execute very fast, since they are executed natively (directly) by the CPU.
All of the expensive parsing of the source code is done before the program begins
executing, and need only be done once. After that, the machine language produced by the
compiler runs with no further need for the source code.
• There is no need to have a compiler on every computer that runs the executable. The
compiler need only be present on the developer's computer, and the executables produced
can be run on any computer with the same architecture and operating system.
• The interpreter must be installed on every computer that runs the program.
The main advantage that is often cited for interpreted programs is that you don't have to wait for it
to compile before you can test it. For this reason, interpreters are sometimes used during the
development of a program, when a programmer wants to add small sections at a time and test
them quickly. In addition, interpreters are often used in education because they allow students to
program interactively.
a) Unstructured Programming
In unstructured programs, the statements are executed in sequence (one after the other) as
written. This type of programming uses the GoTo statement which allows control to be passed to
any other section in the program. When a GoTo statement is executed, the sequence continues
from the target of the GoTo. Thus, to understand how a program works, you have to execute it.
This often makes it difficult to understand the logic of such a program.
b) Structured Programming
Structured programming is a disciplined approach to writing programs that are clearer than
unstructured programs, easier to test and debug and easier to modify.
Structured programming frequently employs a top-down design model, in which developers break
the overall program structure into separate subsections. A defined function or set of similar
functions is coded in a separate module or sub-module, which means that code can be loaded into
memory more efficiently and that modules can be reused in other programs. After a module has
been tested individually, it is then integrated with other modules into the overall program
structure.
Program flow follows a simple hierarchical model that employs looping constructs such as "for,"
"repeat," and "while."
A VPL allows programming with visual expressions, spatial arrangements of text and graphic symbols,
used either as elements of syntax or secondary notation. An example of visual programming
languages is Microsoft Visual Basic which was derived from BASIC and enables the rapid application
development (RAD) of graphical user interface (GUI) applications.
Programming in VB is a combination of visually arranging components or controls on a form,
specifying attributes and actions for those components, and writing additional lines of code for
more functionality.
SOFTWARE CONSIDERATIONS
Before you can start programming in C, you will need a text editor such as a plain text Notepad Editor
though it does not offer code completion or debugging. Many programmers prefer and recommend
using an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) instead of a text editor on which to code,
compile and test their programs.
Memory requirements
Disk space required
ADVANTAGES of C LANGUAGE
1. C is a modular language: we can split the C program into a number of modules instead of
repeating the same logic statements (sequentially). It allows reusability of modules.
2. General purpose programming language: C can be used to implement any kind of applications
such as math’s oriented, graphics, business oriented applications and system software.
3. C is highly Portable: we can compile or execute C program in any operating system (UNIX, dos,
windows).
4. Powerful and efficient programming language: C is a very efficient and powerful
programming language; it is best used for data structures and designing system software. It is
efficient in that it is modular thus makes efficient use of memory and system resources.
CHAPTER 2
1) Problem statement and feasibility study: The fundamental process of understanding why
a system should be built and determining how the project team will go about building it. It
involves
a. Technical feasibility study: can the system be built
b. Economic feasibility study: will the system provide business value, and what are the
risks?
c. Organizational feasibility study: if built, will the system be used, accepted by the
users etc.
2) Systems analysis/requirements definition: this phase identifies the users of the system
and what the system will do or is expected to do. It involves
a. Analysis of the old system
b. Requirements gathering. Various tools for collecting information are used. These
include interviews, questionnaires, observation of the users of the old system etc.
c. Development of the new system proposal document.
3) Systems design: describes how the system will operate, in terms of hardware, software,
network infrastructure, user interface, forms and reports that will be used, the specific
programs, databases and files that will be needed. Design phase steps include;
a. Design strategy: method of development: in-house, outsourced, or purchased
b. Architecture design – hardware , software, internet infrastructure, and user
interface
c. Database and file specification
d. Program design: defines the program that needs to be done and exactly what each
module will do.
4) System Implementation: The real code is written at this stage.
5) Integration and testing: Brings all the pieces of the project together into a special testing
environment, then checks for errors and interoperability.
6) Acceptance, installation, deployment: The final stage of initial development, where the
software is put into use(deployed) and runs actual business.
7) Maintenance: What happens during the rest of the software's life: changes, correction,
additions, and moves to a different computing platforms etc. This step, perhaps most
important of all, goes on seemingly forever.
The SDLC is a cycle i.e. iterative in that a new requirement might initiate the whole process
again.
STRUCTURED PROGRAMMING DESIGN CONCEPTS
1. TOP-DOWN DESIGN
A top-down approach (also known as stepwise design or deductive reasoning, and in many cases
used as a synonym of analysis or decomposition) is essentially the breaking down of a system to
gain insight into its compositional sub-systems. In a top-down approach an overview of the system
is formulated, specifying but not detailing any first-level subsystems. Each subsystem is then
refined in yet greater detail, sometimes in many additional subsystem levels, until the entire
specification is reduced to base elements. Top- down approach starts with the big picture. It
breaks down from there into smaller segments.
Top-down design (also called “Modular programming " and "stepwise refinement") therefore, is a
software design technique that emphasizes separating the functionality of a program into
independent modules such that each module is designed to execute only one aspect of the
desired functionality.
Begin
Get first number, A and second number, B
If A is greater than B
A is the
BiggestOtherwise
B is the
BiggestEnd
Pseudocode cannot be compiled nor executed, and there are no real formatting or syntax rules. It
is simply one step - an important one - in producing the final code
2. Algorithm
This refers to an established, computational procedure for solving a problem in a finite number of
steps. Algorithms can be expressed in any language including natural languages such as English.
Algorithm means a method/ logic for solving a given problem.
Pseudocode is successively refined to get the step by step detailed algorithm that is very close to a
computer language.
A student designed a program to accept the age of an employee and then calculate the
employee’s retirement year. If the user keys in a value below 0, the program should prompt the
user for a valid input. However, if the value keyed in is greater than 65, the system should display
the message that the employee should be retired already. Draw a flow chart to represent the logic
above.
Required:
a. Write out the pseudo-code and the algorithm for the program
b. Write the program in both C and Pascal
Algorithm Step
1: Start
Step 2: Declare variables retirement_year,emp_age,retirement_age,current_year
Step 3: Read variables emp_age,retirement_age,current_year
Step 4: if emp_age <= 0
Print “Key in a valid input”
Else if emp-age > 65
Print “Should be retired already”
Else retirement_year=(retirement_age-employee_age)+ current_year
End if
Step 5: Display retirement_year
Step 5: Stop
Exercise 2
A program was designed to determine a student’s mean score as the average of two marks: eng
and maths. If the mean score is greater than 50, the student is given a pass and a fail if otherwise.
Write the pseudocode and algorithm for the program.
3. Flowchart
A flowchart is a type of diagram that represents an algorithm or process, showing the steps as
boxes of various kinds, and their order by connecting them with arrows. This diagrammatic
representation illustrates a solution to a given problem. Flowcharts are used in designing and
documenting complex processes or programs. Like other types of diagrams, they help to visualize
what is going on and thereby help the viewer to understand a process, and perhaps also find
flaws/errors, bottlenecks, and other less-obvious features within it.
Off-page Connector
Draw flowchart to find the largest among three different numbers entered by user.
Or a flowchart to ask for a number from user and multiply with another number and print result as
follows:
Examples of flowcharts include Activity diagram, Data flow diagram and sequence diagrams etc.
Exercise 1
Draw a flow chart to represent the program described in exercise 2 above.
A structure chart illustrates the division of a program into sub-programss and shows the
hierarchical relationships among the parts/functions. A classic "organization chart" for a
company is an example of a structure chart.
The top of the chart is a box representing the entire problem, the bottom of the chart shows a
number of boxes representing the less complicated sub-problems (e.g. Phone Bill System).
A structure chart is NOT a flowchart. It has nothing to do with the logical sequence of tasks. It does
NOT show the order in which tasks are performed. It does NOT illustrate an algorithm.
Each block represents some function in the system, and thus should contain a verb phrase, e.g.
"Print report."
EXERCISE
Draw a structure chart for an electricity billing system.
Decision Tables
Decision tables provide a handy and compact way to represent complex business logic. A
decision table is an excellent tool to use in both testing and requirements management.
Decision tables are used to model complicated logic. They can make it easy to see that all possible
combinations of conditions have been considered and when conditions are missed, it is easy to see
this.
In a decision table, business logic is divided into conditions, actions (decisions) and rules for
representing the various components that form the business logic. Each column in the table
corresponds to a rule in the business logic that describes the unique combination of
circumstances that will result in the actions.
There is one row for each condition and each vertical column for each combination of values and
resulting actions. Conditions are the factors to consider when making certain business decisions
Actions are the possible actions to take when a condition is met or a certain business decision is
made.
Each vertical column of a decision table is called a rule and each rule symbolizes the combinations
of condition(s) and action(s) that form the business decision. If constructed properly, the decision
table has a rule to cover every combination. Rules are made of selectors symbolized by Y (Yes), N
(No) and – (for redundant or irrelevant rules).
COMPLETING THE TABLE
If the number of conditions identified is n, then the number of possible rules is found by
applying the formula; Number of rules = 2n where n is the number of conditions.
Entries opposite the lowest condition should be completed first using Y an N alternately until
all the vertical rules have been dealt with.
Entries opposite the second lowest condition should be completed using Y an N in pairs until
all the vertical rules have been dealt with.
Entries for the next condition are then completed next using Ys and Ns in fours.
This process continues using twice the number of Ys and Ns each time until all conditions are
completed.
Once entered, the rules are read vertically in each column and an X entered at the action that
appropriately completes that rule. Actions which are mutually exclusive can be combined on a
single line.
EXAMPLE
A student who passes the examinations and completes the coursework and project satisfactorily is
awarded a pass. If the course work and the project are unsatisfactory, the student is asked to
resubmit the unsatisfactory work, as long as the exams have been passed. A student who fails the
examinations is deemed to have failed the whole course unless both the course work and the
project are satisfactory, in which case the student is allowed to re-sit the examination.
SOLUTION
ASSIGNMENT 1
Candidates are accepted for permanent employment if they pass an interview and their
qualifications and referees are satisfactory. If they pass the interview and the qualifications or
referees (but not both) are unsatisfactory, a job for a probationary period is offered. In all other
circumstances, the candidate’s application is rejected.
Assignment 2
• Design the business logic (at least three conditions) that is applicable when a customer is
applying for a bank loan.
• Draw a decision table to represent the business logic.
CHAPTER 3
3. PROGRAM STRUCTURE
STRUCTURE OF A C PROGRAM
The C programming language was designed by Dennis Ritchie as a systems programming language
for Unix.
Example:
#include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
/* My first program*/ printf("Hello, World! \n");
return 0; }
Int max( )
{
}
Preprocessor Commands
These commands tell the compiler to do preprocessing before doing actual compilation. Like
#include <stdio.h> is a preprocessor command which tells a C compiler to include stdio.h file
before going to actual compilation. The standard input and output header file (stdio.h) allows the
program to interact with the screen, keyboard and file system of the computer.
NB/ Preprocessor directives are not actually part of the C language, but rather instructions from
you to the compiler.
Functions
These are main building blocks of any C Program. Every C Program will have one or more functions
and there is one mandatory function which is called main() function. When this function is
prefixed with keyword int, it means this function returns an integer value when it exits. This
integer value is retuned using return statement.
The C Programming language provides a set of built-in functions. In the above example printf() is a
C built-in function which is used to print anything on the screen.
A function is a group of statements that together perform a task. A C program can be divide up
into separate functions but logically the division usually is so each function performs a specific
task. A function declaration tells the compiler about a function's name, return type, and
parameters. A function definition provides the actual body of the function.
The general form of a function definition in C programming language is as follows:
Variable Declarations
In C, all variables must be declared before they are used. Thus, C is a strongly typed programming
language. Variable declaration ensures that appropriate memory space is reserved for the
variables. Variables are used to hold numbers, strings and complex data for manipulation e.g. Int
x;
Int num; int z;
Comments
These are non-executable program statements meant to enhance program readability and allow
easier program maintenance- they document the program. They are ignored by the compiler.
These are used to give additional useful information inside a C Program. All the comments will be
put inside /*...*/ or // for single line comments as given in the example above. A comment can
span through multiple lines.
/* Author: Mzee Moja */
or
/*
* Author: Mzee Moja * Purpose: To show a comment that spans multiple lines.
* Language: C
*/
or
Fruit = apples + oranges; // get the total fruit
Escape Sequences
Escape sequences (also called back slash codes) are character combinations that begin with
a backslash symbol used to format output and represent difficult-to-type characters. They
include:
\a Alert/bell
\b Backspace
\n New line
\v Vertical tab
\t Horizontal tab
\\ Back slash
\” Double quote
\0 Null
SAMPLE PROGRAM
//First program
#include<stdio.h>
main()
{
int num; // Declaration
switch
for
NB/
An interpreter unlike a compiler is a computer program that directly executes, i.e. performs,
instructions written in a programming language, without previously compiling them into a
machine language program.
If the compiled program can run on a computer whose CPU or operating system is different
from the one on which the compiler runs, the compiler is known as a cross-compiler.
A program that translates from a low level language to a higher level one is a decompiler.
Step 2: Compiling
i. The source code is converted into machine equivalent instruction
ii. Compiler checks for errors. If the source code is error free, the source code is converted to
object code. If there are errors, the compiler will report them.
Library Functions
There is a minimal set of library functions that should be supplied by all C compilers, which your
program may use. This collection of functions is called the C standard library. The standard library
contains functions to perform disk I/O (input/ output), string manipulations, mathematics and
much more. When your program is compiled, the code for library functions is automatically added
to your program. One of the most common library functions is called printf() which is a general
purpose output function. The quoted string between the parenthesis of the printf() function is
called an argument.
Printf(“This is a C program\n”)
The \n at the end of the text is an escape sequence tells the program to print a new line as part of
the output.
C DATA TYPES
In the C programming language, data types refer to a system used for declaring variables or
functions of different types. A data type is, therefore, a data storage format that can contain a
specific type or range of values. The type of a variable determines how much space it occupies
in storage and how the bit pattern stored is interpreted. The basic data types in C are as follows:
Type Description
Char Character data and is used to hold a single character. A character can be a letter,
number, space, punctuation mark, or symbol - 1 byte long
Int A signed whole number in the range -32,768 to 32,767 - 2 bytes long
Float A real number (that is, a number that can contain a fractional part) – 4 bytes
Double A double-precision floating point value. Has more digits to the right of the
decimal point than a float – 8 bytes
Void Represents the absence of type. i.e. represents “no data”
USING C’S DATA TYPE MODIFIERS
The five basic types (int, float, char,double and void) can be modified to your specific need using
the following specifiers.
Signed
Signed Data Modifier implies that the data type variable can store positive values as well as
negative values.
The use of the modifier with integers is redundant because the default integer declaration
assumes a signed number. The signed modifier is used with char to create a small signed
integer. Specified as signed, a char can hold numbers in the range -128 to 127.
Unsigned
If we need to change the data type so that it can only store positive values, “unsigned”
data modifier is used.
This can be applied to char and int. When char is unsigned, it can hold positive numbers in
the range 0 to 255.
Long
Sometimes while coding a program, we need to increase the Storage Capacity of a
variable so that it can store values higher than its maximum limit which is there as
default. This can be applied to both int and double. When applied to int, it doubles its
length, in bits, of the base type that it modifies. For example, an integer is usually 16 bits
long. Therefore a long int is 32 bits in length. When long is applied to a double, it roughly
doubles the precision.
Short
A “short” type modifier does just the opposite of “long”. If one is not expecting to see high
range values in a program.
For example, if we need to store the “age” of a student in a variable, we will make use
of this type qualifier as we are aware that this value is not going to be very high The type
modifier precedes the type name. For example this declares a long integer. short int age;
Integer Types
Following table gives you details about standard integer types with its storage sizes and value
ranges:
Type Storage size Value range Char 1 byte -
128 to 127 or 0 to 255
unsigned char 1 byte 0 to 255
signed char 1 byte -128 to 127
Int (16 or 32 2 or 4 bytes -32,768 to 32,767 or -2147483648 to bit
compiler) 2147483647.
unsigned int 2 or 4 bytes 0 to 65,535 or 0 to 4,294,967,295
Short int 2 bytes -32,768 to 32,767
unsigned 2 bytes 0 to 65,535 short
Long int 4 bytes -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647 unsigned long
4 bytes 0 to 4,294,967,295
Floating-Point Types
Following table gives you details about standard floating-point types with storage sizes and value
ranges and their precision:
Type Storage size Value range Precision float 4 byte 1.2E-38 to
3.4E+38 6 decimal places double 8 byte 2.3E-308 to 1.7E+308 15
decimal places long double 10 byte 3.4E-4932 to 1.1E+4932 19
decimal places
The void Type
The void type specifies that no value is available. It is used in three kinds of situations:
Types and Description
1 Function returns as void. There are various functions in C which do not return
value or you can say they return void. A function with no return value has the
return type as void. For example, void exit (int status);
2 Function arguments as void. There are various functions in C which do not
accept any parameter. A function with no parameter can accept as a void. For
example, int rand(void);
3 Pointers to void A pointer of type void * represents the address of an object, but
not its type. For example, a memory allocation function void *malloc( size_t size
); returns a pointer to void which can be casted to any data type.
VARIABLES
A variable is a memory location whose value can change during program execution. In C a variable
must be declared before it can be used i.e. C is strongly typed.
Variable Declaration
Declaring a variable tells the compiler to reserve space in memory for that particular variable. A
variable definition specifies a data type and the variable name and contains a list of one or more
variables of that type .Variables can be declared at the start of any block of code. A declaration
begins with the type, followed by the name of one or more variables. For example,
Int high, low;
int i, j, k; char c, ch;
float f, salary;
Variables can be initialized when they are declared. This is done by adding an equals sign and the
required value after the declaration.
TYPES OF VARIABLES
The Programming language C has two main variable types
• Local Variables
• Global Variables
Local Variables
A local variable is a variable that is declared inside a function.
• Local variables scope is confined within the block or function where it is defined. Local
variables must always be defined at the top of a block.
• When execution of the block/module starts the variable is available, and when the block
ends the variable 'dies'.
Global Variables
Global variable is defined at the top of the program file and it can be visible and modified by any
function that may reference it. Global variables are declared outside all functions.
Sample Program.
int main ()
{
int a, b; //local variable
/* actual initialization */
a = 10;
b = 20;
area = a*b;
printf("\t The area of your rectangle is : %d \n", area);
return 0;
}
Variable Names
Every variable has a name and a value. The name identifies the variable and the value stores data.
Every variable name in C must start with a letter; the rest of the name can consist of letters,
numbers and underscore characters. C is case sensitive i.e. it recognizes upper and lower case
characters as being different. You cannot use any of C’s keywords like main, while, switch etc as
variable names,
Declaration vs Definition
A declaration provides basic attributes of a symbol: its type and its name. A definition provides all
of the details of that symbol--if it's a function, what it does; if it's a class, what fields and methods
it has; if it's a variable, where that variable is stored. Often, the compiler only needs to have a
declaration for something in order to compile a file into an object file, expecting that the linker can
find the definition from another file. If no source file ever defines a symbol, but it is declared, you
will get errors at link time complaining about undefined symbols. In the following short code, the
definition of variable x means that the storage for the variable is that it is a global variable.
int x; int
main()
{ x = 3; }
int main ()
{
int a, b; //local variables
/* actual initialization */
printf("Enter the value of side a: ");
scanf("%d", &a);
area = a*b;
printf("\t The area of your rectangle is : %d \n", area);
return 0;
}
CONSTANTS
C allows you to declare constants. When you declare a constant it is a bit like a variable
declaration except the value cannot be changed during program execution. The const keyword is
used to declare a constant, as shown below: int const A = 1; const int A = 5;
const char name= ‘c’;
TYPE CASTING
Type casting is a way to convert a variable from one data type to another. For example, if you
want to store a long value into a simple integer then you can type cast long to int. You can convert
values from one type to another explicitly using the cast operator as follows:
(type_name) expression
Consider the following example where the cast operator causes the division of one integer
variable by another to be performed as a floating-point operation:
#include <stdio.h>
main()
{
int sum = 17, count = 5; double mean;
When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces the following result:
Value of mean: 3.400000
It should be noted here that the cast operator has precedence over division, so the value of sum is
first converted to type double and finally it gets divided by count yielding a double value.
Type conversions can be implicit which is performed by the compiler automatically, or it can be
specified explicitly through the use of the cast operator. It is considered good programming
practice to use the cast operator whenever type conversions are necessary.
C PROGRAMMING OPERATORS
Operator is the symbol which operates on a value or a variable (operand). For example: + is an
operator to perform addition.
C programming language has a wide range of operators to perform various operations. For better
understanding of operators, these operators can be classified as:
OPERATORS IN C PROGRAMMING
1. Arithmetic Operators
2. Increment and Decrement Operators
3. Assignment Operators
4. Relational Operators
5. Logical Operators
6. Conditional Operators
7. Bitwise Operators
8. Special Operators
ARITHMETIC OPERATORS
Assume variable A holds 10 and variable B holds 20 then
Operator Description Example
+ Adds two operands A + B will give 30
- Subtracts second operand from the first A - B will give -10
* Multiplies both operands A * B will give 200
/ Divides numerator by de-numerator B / A will give 2
% Modulus Operator - remainder of after an B % A will give 0
integer division
Note: % operator can only be used with integers.
Output
20
4
a=a-b
a*=b
NB/ += means Add and Assign etc.
Here, > is a relational operator. If a is greater than b, a>b returns 1 if not then, it returns 0.
Meaning of
Operator Example
Operator
If c=5 and d=2 then,((c= =5) && (d>5))
&& Logical AND
returns false.
If c=5 and d=2 then, ((c= =5) || (d>5)) returns
|| Logical OR
true.
! Logical NOT If c=5 then, !(c= =5) returns false.
The following table shows the result of operator && evaluating the expression a&&b:
The operator || corresponds to the Boolean logical operation OR, which yields true if either of its
operands is true, thus being false only when both operands are false. Here are the possible results
of a || b:
|| OPERATOR (or)
a b a || b
true true true
true false true
false true true
false false false
Explanation
For expression, ((c==5) && (d>5)) to be true, both c==5 and d>5 should be true but, (d>5) is false in
the given example. So, the expression is false. For expression ((c==5) || (d>5)) to be true, either the
expression should be true.
Since, (c==5) is true. So, the expression is true. Since, expression (c==5) is true, !(c==5) is false.
Conditional operators are used for decision making in C. For example: d=(c>0)?10:-10;
If c is greater than 0, value of c will be 10 but, if c is less than 0, value of c will be -10.
BITWISE OPERATORS
Bitwise operators work on bits and performs bit-by-bit operation.
PRECEDENCE OF OPERATORS
If more than one operator is involved in an expression then, C language has a predefined rule of
priority of operators. This rule of priority of operators is called operator precedence.
Here, operators with the highest precedence appear at the top of the table, those with the lowest
appear at the bottom. Within an expression, higher precedence operators will be evaluated first.
Category Operator Associativity
Postfix () [ ] ++ - - Left to right
Here, operators == and != have the same precedence. The associativity of both == and != is left to
right, i.e., the expression in left is executed first and execution take pale towards right. Thus, a==b!
=c equivalent to :
(a= =b)!=c
Operators may be left-associative (meaning the operations are grouped from the left),
rightassociative (meaning the operations are grouped from the right)
int main ()
{
int num, sqr; double squarert;
squarert=sqrt(num);
sqr=num*num;
return(0);
}
2. Program to return a number raised to the power of another number.
#include<stdio.h>
#include<math.h>
void main() {
int num,
power; double
result;
result=pow(num,power);
printf("%d raised to power %d is %lf",num,power,result);
}
Chapter 4
CONTROL STRUCTURES
Definition
Control structures represent the forms by which statements in a program
are executed. Flow of control refers to the order in which the individual
statements, instructions or function calls of a program are executed or
evaluated.
3. Repetition/Iterative/looping structures
This is where a group of statements in a program may have to be executed repeatedly until some
condition is satisfied. These include while, do/while and for
SELECTION STRUCTURES
(a)THE IF SELECTION STRUCTURE
– Used to choose among alternative courses of action i.e. the if statement provides a junction at
which the program has to select which path to follow. The if selection performs an action only if
the condition is true,
General form
If (expression)
statement
Pseudocode:
if (marks>=600)
printf(“Passed”);
If condition is true
– Print statement executed and program goes on to next statement
– If false, print statement is ignored and the program goes onto the next statement
NB/ Indenting makes programs easier to read
Flow chart for the if selection structure
NB/ The statement in the if structure can be a single statement or a block (Compound statement).
If it’s a block of statements, it must be marked off by braces.
if (expression)
{
Block of statements
}
As in
If (salary>5000)
{
VAT = salary * 0.16;
printf(“Tax charged is %f”, VAT);
}
While if only performs an action if the condition is true, if/else specifies an action to be performed both
when the condition is true and when it is false. E.g.
Pseudocode:
If student’s grade is greater than or equal to 60
Print “Passed” else
Print “Failed”
else
printf(“x < 0 \n);
Example
#include <stdio.h>
main() {
int
marks;
printf("Please enter your MARKS:"); scanf("%d",
&marks);
Syntax
The syntax for a nested if statement is as follows:
if (boolean_expression 1)
{
/* Executes when the boolean expression 1 is true */
if(boolean_expression 2)
{
/* Executes when the boolean expression 2 is true */
}
}
You can nest else if...else in the similar way as you have nested if statement.
Example
#include <stdio.h> int
main ()
{
/* local variable definition
*/ int a = 100; int b = 200;
/* check the boolean condition
*/ if( a = = 100 ) {
/* if condition is true then check the following */
if( b = = 200 )
{
/* if condition is true then print the following
*/ printf("Value of a is 100 and b is 200\n" ); }
} return
0; }
When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces the following result:
Value of a is 100 and b is 200
Exact value of a is : 100 Exact
value of b is : 200
#include<stdio.h>
void main()
{
char grade;
printf("Enter your grade:");
scanf("%c", &grade);
switch (grade)
{
case 'A':
printf("Excellent!\n");
break;
case 'B':
printf("Very
Good!\n"); break; case 'C':
printf("Good!\n")
; break; case 'D':
printf("Work
harder!\n"); break; default:
printf("Fail!\n");
}
}
Syntax
The syntax for a nested switch statement is as
follows: switch(ch1) { case 'A':
printf("This A is part of outer switch" ); switch(ch2)
{
case 'A': printf("This A is part of inner
switch" ); break; case 'B':
}
break;
case 'B':
}
Example
#include <stdio.h>
int main ()
{
/* local variable definition
*/ int a = 100; int b = 200;
switch(a) { case 100:
printf("This is part of outer switch\n", a
); switch(b) { case 200:
printf("This is part of inner switch\n", a );
printf(“A is equals to %d and B is equals to %d”, a, b); }
} printf("Exact value of a is : %d\n", a
); printf("Exact value of b is : %d\n", b
); return 0; }
When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces the following result:
This is part of outer switch
This is part of inner switch
A is equals to 100 and B is equals to 200
Exact value of a is : 100 Exact
value of b is : 200
REPETITION/ITERATIVE/LOOP STRUCTURES
A loop statement allows the execution of a statement or a group of statements multiple times until
a condition either tests true or false. There are two types of loops: Pre-test and post-test loops. In
a pretest loop, a logical condition is checked before each repetition to determine if the loop should
terminate. These loops include:
– while loop
– for loop
Post-test loops check a logical condition after each repetition for termination. The do-while loop is a
posttest loop.
while(condition)
{ statement(s);
update
expression }
The statement(s) may be a single statement or a block of statements. The loop iterates while the
condition is true.
When the condition becomes false, program control passes to the line immediately following the loop.
Example
#include <stdio.h> int main ()
{
/* local variable definition */ int a = 10; //loop
index
When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces the following
result: value of a: 10 value of a: 11 value of a: 12 value of a: 13 value of a: 14
value of a: 15 value of a: 16 value of a: 17 value of a: 18 value of a: 19
2. Next, the condition is evaluated. If it is true, the body of the loop is executed. If it is false, the
body of the loop does not execute and flow of control jumps to the next statement just after the
for loop.
3. After the body of the for loop executes, the flow of control jumps back up to the update
expression. This statement allows you to update any loop control variables. This statement can
be left blank, as long as a semicolon appears after the condition.
4. The condition is now evaluated again. If it is true, the loop executes and the process repeats
itself. After the condition becomes false, the for loop terminates.
Flow Diagram
Example
#include <stdio.h> int main ()
{
int a;//loop index
/* for loop execution */ for(a = 10; a < 20;
a++)
{
printf("value of a: %d\n", a);
} return 0; }
When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces the following
result: value of a: 10 value of a: 11 value of a: 12 value of a: 13 value of a: 14
value of a: 15 value of a: 16 value of a: 17 value of a: 18 value of a: 19
Syntax
do { statement(s);
update expression;
}while( condition );
If the condition is true, the flow of control jumps back up to do, and the statement(s) in the loop execute
again. This process repeats until the given condition becomes false.
Example
#include <stdio.h> int main ()
{
/* local variable definition */
int a = 10;
/* do loop execution */
do {
printf("value of a: %d\n", a);
a = a + 1;
}while( a < 20 ); return
When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces the following
result: value of a: 10 value of a: 11 value of a: 12 value of a: 13 value of a: 14
value of a: 15 value of a: 16 value of a: 17 value of a: 18 value of a: 19
The syntax for a nested while loop statement in C programming language is as follows:
while(condition)
{ while(condition)
{
statement(s);
}
statement(s);
}
The syntax for a nested do...while loop statement in C programming language is as follows:
do {
statement(s
); do {
statement(s);
}while( condition );
}while( condition );
A final note on loop nesting is that you can put any type of loop inside of any other type of loop. For
example, a for loop can be inside a while loop or vice versa.
Example
#include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
int n, c, k;
return 0;
}
Result:
If the user interred 5 as the number of rows, the output would be:
1
12
123
1234
12345
TERMINATING LOOPS
• Counter-controlled loops - a loop controlled by a counter variable, generally where the number of
times the loop will execute is known ahead of time especially in for loops.
• Event-controlled loops - loops where termination depends on an event rather than executing a
fixed number of times for example when a zero value is keyed in or search through data until an item is
found. Used mostly in while loops and do-while loops.
Using a Sentinel
• The value -999 is sometimes referred to as a sentinel value. The value serves as the “guardian” for the
termination of the loop. It is a good idea to make the sentinel a constant:
#define STOPNUMBER -999 while (number !=
STOPNUMBER) ...
(b)CONTINUE STATEMENT IN C
The continue statement works somewhat like the break statement. Instead of forcing termination,
however, continue forces the next iteration of the loop to take place, skipping any code in between.
For the for loop, continue statement causes the conditional test and increment portions of the loop to
execute. For the while and do...while loops, continue statement causes the program control to pass to
the conditional tests.
Example
//program to demonstrate the working of continue statement in C programming
#include<stdio.h> main()
{ int j;
for (j=0; j<=8; j++)
{
if (j==4)
{
continue; }
(d)GOTO STATEMENT IN C
A goto statement provides an unconditional jump from the goto to a labeled statement in the same
function.
NOTE: Use of goto statement is highly discouraged in any programming language because it makes
difficult to trace the control flow of a program, making the program hard to understand and hard to
modify. Any program that uses a goto can be rewritten so that it doesn't need the goto.
Syntax
The syntax for a goto statement in C is as follows:
goto label;
..
.
Example
#include <stdio.h> int main ()
{
/* for loop execution */ int
a,userinput,sum=0;
sum+=userinput; }
The data type of the returned value must match the type of the method's declared return value. When a
function is declared void, use the form of return that doesn't return a value.
return;
When the conditional expression is absent, it is assumed to be true. You may have an initialization and
increment expression, but C programmers more commonly use the for(;;) construct to signify an infinite
loop.
NOTE: You can terminate an infinite loop by pressing Ctrl + C keys.
CHAPTER 5
SUBPROGRAMS IN C
A sub-program is a series of C statements that perform a specific task in a program. A
subprogram can be called within another procedure. Every C program has at least one
function, which is main(). A C program can be divided up into separate functions.
A function declaration tells the compiler about a function's name, return type, and
parameters. A function definition provides the actual body of the function. The C
standard library provides numerous built-in functions that your program can call.
For example, function strcat() to concatenate two strings, function memcpy() to
copy one memory location to another location and many more functions.
A function is known with various names like a method or a sub-routine or a
procedure, etc. However, a function returns a value while a procedure doesn’t: it
just executes commands.
A Subprogram is:
• a part of a program that performs one or more related tasks
• has its own name
• written as an independent part of the program
TYPES OF FUNCTIONS
Basically, there are two types of functions in C on basis of whether it is defined by
user or not.
• Library functions
• User defined functions
LIBRARY FUNCTION
Library functions are the in-built functions in C programming system. For example: printf()
As mentioned earlier, every C program begins from main() and program starts executing
the codes inside main() function. When the control of program reaches to function_name()
inside main() function. The control of program jumps to void function_name() and executes
the codes inside it. When, all the codes inside that user-defined function are executed,
control of the program jumps to the statement just after function_name() from where it is
called. Analyze the figure below for understanding the concept of function in C
programming.
Remember, the function name is an identifier and should be unique.
DEFINING A FUNCTION
The general form of a function definition in C programming language is as follows:
1. Return Type: A function may return a value. The return_type is the data type of
the value the function returns. Some functions perform the desired operations
without returning a value. In this case, the return_type is the keyword void.
2. Function Name: This is the actual name of the function. The function name and
the parameter list together constitute the function signature.
3. Parameters: A parameter is like a placeholder. When a function is invoked, you
pass a value to the formal parameter. This value is referred to as actual
parameter or argument. The parameter list refers to the type, order, and number
of the parameters of a function. Parameters are optional; that is, a function may
contain no parameters.
4. Function Body: The function body contains a collection of statements that define
what the function does.
Example
Following is the source code for a function called max(). This function takes two
parameters num1 and num2 and returns the maximum between the two:
/* function returning the max between two numbers */
For the above defined function max(), following is the function declaration:
Parameter names are not important in function declaration; only their type is
required, so the following is also valid declaration:
Function declaration is required when you define a function in one source file and
you call that function in another file. In such case you should declare the function at
the top of the file calling the function.
CALLING A FUNCTION
While creating a C function, you give a definition of what the function has to do. To
use a function, you will have to call that function to perform the defined task. When
a program calls a function, program control is transferred to the called function. A
called function performs defined task, and when its return statement is executed or
when its function-ending closing brace is reached, it returns program control back to
the main program. Therefore, the calling program is suspended during execution of
the called subprogram.
To call a function, you simply need to pass the required parameters along with
function name, and if function returns a value, then you can store returned value. For
example:
#include <stdio.h> /* function
declaration */ int max(int num1, int
num2);
int main ()
{
/* local variable definition */
int a = 100; int b = 200;
int ret;
/* calling a function to get max value */
ret = max(a, b);
printf( "Max value is : %d\n", ret );
return 0; }
The formal parameters behave like other local variables inside the function and are
created upon entry into the function and destroyed upon exit.
While calling a function, there are two ways that arguments can be passed to a
function:
Pass by valueformal parameter of the function. In this case, changes made to the
parameter inside the function have no effect on the
argument.
This method copies the address of an argument into the
Pass by reference formal parameter. Inside the function, the address is used to access
the actual argument used in the call. This means that
changes made to the parameter affect the argument.
By default, C uses pass by value to pass arguments. In general, this means that code
within a function cannot alter the arguments used to call the function and above
mentioned example while calling max() function used the same method.
FUNCTION ARGUMENTS
If a function is to use arguments, it must declare variables that accept the values of
the arguments. These variables are called the formal parameters of the function.
The formal parameters behave like other local variables inside the function and are
created upon entry into the function and destroyed upon exit.
A formal parameter is a dummy variable listed in the subprogram header and used in
the subprogram. An actual parameter represents a value used in the subprogram call
statement.
When max() is called, we pass it the arguments which the function uses as the values
of ret. This process is called parameter passing.
*****
Parameters refers to the list of variables in a method declaration. Arguments are the
actual values that are passed when the method is invoked. When you invoke a
method, the arguments used must match the declaration's parameters in type and
order.
TYPES OF VARIABLES
The Programming language C has two main variable types
• Local Variables
• Global Variables
LOCAL VARIABLES
• When execution of the block starts the variable is available, and when the
block ends the variable 'dies'.
GLOBAL VARIABLES
Global variable is defined at the top of the program file and it can be visible and
modified by any function that may reference it. Global variables are declared outside
all functions.
Sample Program.
#include <stdio.h> int
area; //global variable
int main ()
{
int a, b; //local variable
/* actual initialization
*/ a = 10; b = 20;
printf ("\t Side a is %d cm and side b is %d cm long\n", a, b);
area = a*b;
printf ("\t The area of your rectangle is : %d \n", area);
return 0;
}
EXERCISES
1. Write a C program to add two integers. Define a function add to add integers and
display sum in main() function.
//main function
#include<stdio.h>
int add(int a, int b);
int main()
{
int a, b, sum;
2. Write a C program– max()- to determine the greater of two integers. Call the
function from main() and supply it with two integers and then display the greater
of the two.
#include <stdio.h>
return result;
}
CHAPTER 6
DATA STRUCTURES
These refer to groups of data elements that are organized in a single unit so that they can be
used more efficiently as compared to the simple variables such as integers and strings. Ordinary
variables store one value at a time while a data structure will store more than one value at a time
in a single variable name.
Data structures are important for grouping sets of similar data together and passing them as one.
For example, if you have a method that prints a set of data but you don't know when writing the
procedure how large that set is going to be, you could use an array to pass the data to that
method and loop through it.
The data structures available in C include arrays, Linked Lists, Stacks, Queues, Trees, Graphs, Tables,
Sets, Pointers and References.
In Pascal, the data structures include arrays, records, files and sets.
Data structures can be classified using various criteria.
a) Linear
In linear data structures, elements are arranged in linear fashion. A linear data structure traverses
the data elements sequentially. The elements in the structure are adjacent to one another other
and every element has exactly two neighbour elements to which it is connected. Arrays, linked
lists, stacks and queues are examples of linear data structures.
b) Non-Linear
The data values in this structure are not arranged in order but every data item is attached to
several other data items in a way that is specific for reflecting relationships. Tree, graph, table and
sets are examples of non-linear data structures.
c) Homogenous
In this type of data structures, values of the same types of data are stored, as in an array.
d) Non-homogenous
In this type of data structures, data values of different types are grouped together, as in structures
and classes.
e) Dynamic
In dynamic data structures such as references and pointers, size and memory locations can be
changed during program execution. These data structures can grow and shrink during
execution. f) Static
With a static data structure, the size of the structure is fixed. Static data structures such as arrays
are very good for storing a well-defined number of data items.
ARRAYS
An array is a named list of elements, all with the same data type. It is also defined as a consecutive
group of memory locations all of which have the same name and the same data type. Arrays store
a fixed-size sequential collection of elements of the same type.
Instead of declaring individual variables, such as number0, number1, ..., and number99, you
declare one array variable such as numbers and use numbers[0], numbers[1], and ..., numbers[99]
to represent individual variables. A specific element in an array is accessed by an index.
All arrays consist of contiguous memory locations. The lowest address corresponds to the first
element and the highest address to the last element.
DECLARING ARRAYS
To declare an array in C, a programmer specifies the type of the elements and the number of
elements required by an array as follows:
This is called a single-dimensional array. The arraySize must be an integer constant greater than
zero and type can be any valid C data type. For example, to declare a 10-element array called
balance of type double, use this statement:
double balance[10];
If you omit the size of the array, an array just big enough to hold the initialization is created.
Therefore, if you write:
You will create exactly the same array as you did in the previous example.
balance[4] = 50.0;
The above statement assigns element number 5 in the array a value of 50.0. Array with 4th index
will be 5th ie. last element because all arrays have 0 as the index of their first element which is
also called base index. Following is the pictorial representation of the same array we discussed
above:
The above statement will take 10th element from the array and assign the value to salary variable.
Following is an example which will use all the above mentioned three concepts viz. declaration,
assignment and accessing arrays:
#include <stdio.h>
int main () {
int n[ 9 ]; /* n is an array of 10 integers */ int i,j;
When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces the following result:
Element[0] = 100
Element[1] = 101
Element[2] = 102
Element[3] = 103
Element[4] = 104
Element[5] = 105
Element[6] = 106
Element[7] = 107
Element[8] = 108
Element[9] = 109
SORT TECHNIQUES
1. Bubble sort
2. Selection sort
3. Merge sort
4. Quick sort
5. Exchange sort
6. Shell sort
Bubble Sort
In the bubble sort, as elements are sorted they gradually "bubble" (or rise) to their proper location
in the array, like bubbles rising in a glass of soda. The bubble sort repeatedly compares adjacent
elements of an array. The first and second elements are compared and swapped if out of order.
Then the second and third elements are compared and swapped if out of order. This sorting process
continues until the last two elements of the array are compared and swapped if out of order.
When this first pass through the array is complete, the bubble sort returns to elements one and
two and starts the process all over again.
The table below follows an array of numbers before, during, and after a bubble sort
fordescending order. A "pass" is defined as one full trip through the array comparing and if
necessary, swapping, adjacent elements. Several passes have to be made through the array
before it is finally sorted
The bubble sort is an easy algorithm to program, but it is slower than many other sorts. With a
bubble sort, it is always necessary to make one final "pass" through the array to check to see that
no swaps are made to ensure that the process is finished. In actuality, the process is finished
before this last pass is made.
is:\n");
During each pass, the unsorted element with the smallest (or largest) value is moved to its proper
position in the array.
The number of times the sort passes through the array is one less than the number of items in the
array. In the selection sort, the inner loop finds the next smallest (or largest) value and the outer
loop places that value into its proper location.
Let's look at our same table of elements using a selection sort for descending order. Remember, a
"pass" is defined as one full trip through the array comparing and if necessary, swapping elements.
While being an easy sort to program, the selection sort is one of the least efficient. The algorithm
offers no way to end the sort early, even if it begins with an already sorted list.
Shell Sort
The shell sort is named after its inventor D. L. Shell. Instead of comparing adjacent elements, like
the bubble sort, the shell sort repeatedly compares elements that are a certain distance away
from each other (d represents this distance). The value of d starts out as half the input size and is
halved after each pass through the array. The elements are compared and swapped when
needed. The equation d= (N + 1) / 2 is used. Notice that only integer values are used for d since
integer division is occurring.
Let's look at our same list of values for descending order with the shell sort. Remember, a "pass" is
defined as one full trip through the array comparing and if necessary, swapping elements.
First Pass: d = (6 + 1) / 2 = 3. Compare 1st and 4th , 2nd and 5th, and 3rd and 6th items since they
are 3 positions away from each other))
Second Pass: value for d is halved d = (3 + 1) / 2 = 2. Compare items two places away such as 1st
and 3rd ……
Third Pass: value for d is halved d = (2 + 1) / 2 = 1. Compare items one place away such as 1st and
2nd …..
Last Pass: sort continues until d = 1 and the pass occurs without any swaps.
This sorting process, with its comparison model, is an efficient sorting algorithm.
Quick Sort
The quicksort is considered to be very efficient, with its "divide and conquer" algorithm. This sort
starts by dividing the original array into two sections (partitions) based upon the value of the first
element in the array. Since our example sorts into descending order, the first section will contain
all the elements greater than the first element. The second section will contain elements less than
(or equal to) the first element. It is possible for the first element to end up in either section. This
sort uses recursion - the process of "calling itself".
Array at beginning:
//Quick Sort Functions for Descending Order // (2 Functions)
void main()
{
// top = subscript of beginning of array
// bottom = subscript of end of array
int middle; if
(top < bottom)
{
middle = partition(num, top, bottom);
quicksort(num, top, middle); // sort first section
quicksort(num, middle+1, bottom); // sort second section
}
return;
}
do
{ i++;
} while (x <array[i]);
if (i < j)
{
temp = array[i];
array[i] = array[j]; array[j]
= temp;
}
}while (i < j);
return j; // returns middle subscript
}
Merge Sort
The merge sort combines two sorted arrays into one larger sorted array.
As the diagram below shows, Array A and Array B merge to form Array C.
Here is how it works: The first element of array A is compared with the first element of array B. If
the first element of array A is smaller than the first element of array B, the element from array A is
moved to the new array C. The subscript of array A is now increased since the first element is now
set and we move on.
If the element from array B should be smaller, it is moved to the new array C. The subscript of
array B is increased. This process of comparing the elements in the two arrays continues until
either array A or array B is empty. When one array is empty, any elements remaining in the other
(non-empty) array are "pushed" into the end of array C and the merge is complete.
Binary Search
Binary search uses the concept of splitting your searchable array in two, discarding the half that
does not have the element for which you are looking.
You place your items in an array and sort them. Then you simply get the middle element and test if
it is <, >, or = to the element for which you are searching. If it is less than, you discard the greater
half, get the middle index of the remaining elements and do it again. Binary search divides your
problem in half every time you execute your loop.
#include <stdio.h>
int main()
{
int c, first, last, middle, n, search, array[10];
return 0; }
POINTERS
A pointer is a variable whose value is the address of another variable, i.e., direct address of the
memory location. Like any variable or constant, you must declare a pointer before you can use it
to store any variable address. The general form of a pointer variable declaration is: type *var-name;
Here, type is the pointer's base type; it must be a valid C data type and var-name is the name of
the pointer variable. The asterisk * you used to declare a pointer is the same asterisk that you use
for multiplication. However, in this statement the asterisk is being used to designate a variable as
a pointer. Following are the valid pointer declaration:
The actual data type of the value of all pointers, whether integer, float, character, or otherwise, is
the same, a long hexadecimal number that represents a memory address. The only difference
between pointers of different data types is the data type of the variable or constant that the
pointer points to.
Dereferencing
{
int var = 20; /* actual variable declaration */ int *ip; /* pointer variable
declaration */ ip = &var; /* store address of var in pointer variable*/ printf("Address
of var variable: %x\n", &var );
/* access the value using the pointer */ printf("Value of *ip variable: %d\n",
*ip );
return 0; }
When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces result something as follows:
NULL Pointers in C
It is always a good practice to assign a NULL value to a pointer variable in case you do not have
exact address to be assigned. This is done at the time of variable declaration. A pointer that is
assigned NULL is called a null pointer.
A NULL pointer is usually used to mark the end of a linked list. i.e. Since pointers in a list points to
the next member of the list, if the pointer is NULL, then it is the last node in the list.
The NULL pointer is a constant with a value of zero defined in several standard libraries. Consider
the following program:
#include <stdio.h>
int main ()
{ int *ptr = NULL;
return 0; }
When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces the following result:
C STRINGS
In C, one or more characters enclosed between double quotes is called a string. C does not have
built-in string data type. Instead, C supports strings using one-dimensional arrays. A string is
defined as a null terminated array i.e. \0. This means that you must define the array that is going
to hold a string to be one byte larger than the largest string it is going to hold, in order to make
room for the null.
To read a string from the keyboard, you must use another of C’s standard library functions, gets( )
, which requires the string.h header file. The gets ( ) function reads characters until you press
<ENTER>. The carriage return is not stored, but it is replaced by a null, which terminates the string.
E.g.
#include<stdio.h>
Main ( )
{
Char name [80];
Printf (” Enter a string: \n”);
gets(name);
The following declaration and initialization create a string consisting of the word "Hello". To hold
the null character at the end of the array, the size of the character array containing the string is
one more than the number of characters in the word "Hello".
Initialization of strings
In C, string can be initialized in a different number of ways.
char c[]="abcd";
OR, char c[5]="abcd";
OR,
char c[]={'a','b','c','d','\0'};
OR;
char c[5]={'a','b','c','d','\0'};
Strings can also be initialized using pointers
char *c="abcd"; char c[20];
scanf("%s",c);
String variable c can only take a word. It is beacause when white space is encountered, the scanf()
function terminates.
Output
Enter name: Dennis Ritchie Your name is
Dennis.
Here, program will ignore Ritchie because, scanf() function takes only string before the white space.
PARAMETERS
• str1 -- This is the first string to be compared.
• str2 -- This is the second string to be compared.
RETURN VALUE
This function returned values are as follows:
Example
The following example shows the usage of strncmp() function.
#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h>
int main ()
{
char str1[15]; char
str2[15]; int ret;
if(ret > 0)
{
printf("str1 is less than str2");
}
else if(ret < 0)
{
printf("str2 is less than str1");
} else
{
printf("str1 is equal to str2");
}
return(0); }
Dynamic allocation
Dynamic allocation of memory is a very important subject in C - it allows building complex data
structures such as linked lists. Allocating memory dynamically helps us to store data without
initially knowing the size of the data in the time we wrote the program.
To allocate a chunk of memory dynamically, we have to have a pointer ready - which will store the
location of the newly allocated memory. We can access memory that was allocated to us using that
same pointer, and we can use that pointer to free the memory we got, once we finish using it.
} person;
Execute Code
To allocate a new person in the myperson argument, we use the following syntax:
person * myperson = malloc(sizeof(person));
Execute Code
This tells the compiler that we want to dynamically allocate just enough to hold a person struct in
memory, and then return a pointer to the newly allocated data.
Note that sizeof is not an actual function, because the compiler interprets it and translates it to
the actual memory size of the pointer struct.
Execute Code
After we are done using the dynamically allocated struct, we can release it using free:
free(myperson);
Execute Code
Note that the free does not delete the myperson variable itself, it simply releases the data that
it points to. The myperson variable will still point to somewhere in the memory - but after
calling myperson we are not allowed to access that area anymore. We must not use that
pointer again until we allocate new data using it.
Linked lists
Linked lists are the best and simplest example of a dynamic data structure that uses pointers for
its implementation. However, understanding pointers is crucial to understanding how linked lists
work, so if you've skipped the pointers tutorial, you should go back and redo it. You must also be
familiar with dynamic memory allocation and structures.
Essentially, linked lists function as an array that can grow and shrink as needed, from any point in
the array.
1. There is no "random" access - it is impossible to reach the nth item in the array without first
iterating over all items up until that item. This means we have to start from the beginning of
the list and count how many times we advance in the list until we get to the desired item.
2. Dynamic memory allocation and pointers are required, which complicates the code and
increases the risk of memory leaks and segment faults.
3. Linked lists have a much larger overhead over arrays, since linked list items are dynamically
allocated (which is less efficient in memory usage) and each item in the list also must store an
additional pointer.
A linked list, therefore, is a set of dynamically allocated nodes, arranged in such a way that each
node contains one value and one pointer. The pointer always points to the next member of the list.
If the pointer is NULL, then it is the last node in the list.
A linked list is held using a local pointer variable which points to the first item of the list. If that
pointer is also NULL, then the list is considered to be empty.
} node_t;
Notice that we are defining the struct in a recursive manner, which is possible in C. Let's name our
node type node_t.
Now we can use the nodes. Let's create a local variable which points to the first item of the list
(called head).
node_t * head = NULL; head =
return 1;
We've just created the first variable in the list. We must set the value, and the next item to be
empty, if we want to finish populating the list. Notice that we should always check if malloc
returned a NULL value or not.
To add a variable to the end of the list, we can just continue advancing to the next pointer:
node_t * head = NULL; head =
>next->next = NULL;
This can go on and on, but what we should actually do is advance to the last item of the list, until
the next variable will be NULL. Iterating over a list
To print out all the items of a list. Use a current pointer that will keep track of the node we are
currently printing. After printing the value of the node, we set the current pointer to the next
node, and print again, until we've reached the end of the list (the next node is NULL).
while (current != NULL) { printf("%d\n", current->val);
current = current->next;
More Examples
1) C Program to Find the Length of a String
#include <stdio.h>
#include <string.h> int main()
{
char s[1000],i; printf("Enter a string: ");
gets(s);
i = strlen(s); printf("Length of the string is: %d\n",i);
return 0; }Output
Enter a string: Programiz
Length of string: 9
Structures
C arrays allow you to define types of variables that can hold several data items of the same kind.
On the other hand, a structure is a User Defined Data Type (UDT) available in C programming,
which allows you to combine data items of different kinds.
Structures are used to group together different types of variables under the same name. For
example you could create a structure “Books”: which is made up of three strings (that is used to
hold the author’s name, Subject and title) and an integer (that is used to hold the book’s ID).
Structures are used to represent records of data. Suppose you want to keep track of your books
in a library. You might want to track the following attributes about each book:
• Title
• Author
• Subject
• Book ISBN No
Defining a Structure
To define a structure, you must use the struct statement. The struct statement defines a new
data type, with more than one member for your program.
With the declaration of the structure you have created a new type, called Books. Before you can
use the type telephone you have to create a variable of the type BOOKS. The format of the struct
statement is this:
struct structure_name
{
member definition; member
definition;
... member definition; };
struct Books
{
char title[50]; char
author[50]; char subject[100];
int book_id;
};
int main( )
{
struct Books Book1; /* Declare Book1 of type Book */
return 0; }
When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces the following result:
Book 1 title : C Programming
Book 1 author : Nuha Ali
Book 1 subject : C Programming Tutorial
Book 1 book_id : 6495407
typedef
The C programming language provides a keyword called typedef, which you can use to give a user
defined type (UDT) a new name.
For example you can use typedef with structure to define a new data type and then use that data
type to define structure variables directly as follows:
#include<stdio.h>
#include<string.h>
main()
{
BOOK mybook; [Link]=22001;
[Link]="Wizard of the Crow";
strcpy([Link],"Ngugi wa
Thiong'o");
typedef vs #define
The #define is a C-directive which is also used to define the aliases for various data types similar to
typedef but with a different:
The typedef is limited to giving symbolic names to types only where as #define can be used to
define an alias for values as well, like you can define 1 as ONE etc.
The typedef interpretation is performed by the compiler where as #define statements are
processed by the pre-processor.
Following is a simplest usage of #define:
#include <stdio.h>
#define TRUE 1
#define FALSE 0 int main( )
{
printf( "Value of TRUE : %d\n", TRUE); printf( "Value of
FALSE : %d\n", FALSE); return 0; }
When the above code is compiled and executed, it produces the following result:
Value of TRUE : 1
Value of FALSE : 0
QUEUES
Queue is a specialized data storage structure (Abstract data type). Unlike arrays, access of
elements in a Queue is restricted. It has two main operations enqueue and dequeue. Insertion in a
queue is done using enqueue function and removal from a queue is done using dequeue function.
An item can be inserted at the end (‘rear’) of the queue and removed from the front (‘front’) of
the queue. It is therefore, also called First-In-First-Out (FIFO) list. Queue has five properties -
capacity stands for the maximum number of elements Queue can hold, size stands for the current
size of the Queue, elements is the array of elements, front is the index of first element (the index
at which we remove the element) and rear is the index of last element (the index at which we
insert the element).
Primitive operations
a) enqueue (q, x): inserts item x at the rear of the queue q
b) x = dequeue (q): removes the front element from q and returns its value.
c) isEmpty(q) : true if the queue is empty, otherwise false.
Example
enqueue(q, ‘A’);
enqueue(q, ‘B’);
enqueue(q, ‘C’);
x = dequeue(q);
enqueue(q, ‘D’);
enqueue(q, ‘E’);
OPENING FILES
You can use the fopen( ) function to create a new file or to open an existing file, this call
will initialize an object of the type FILE, which contains all the information necessary to
control the stream. Following is the prototype of this function call:
FILE *fopen( filename, mode );
Here, filename is a string literal, which you will use to name your file and access mode
can have one of the following values:
Example
#include<stdio.h>
main () { char
name[20]; FILE
*myfile;
printf("Key in your name: ");
gets(name);
myfile =
fopen("C:/tmp/[Link]","w+");
fprintf(myfile,"Hello ");
fputs(name,myfile); fputs(" and
welcome\n",myfile); fclose(myfile);
CLOSING A FILE
To close a file, use the fclose( ) function. The prototype of this function is:
int fclose( FILE *fp );
The fclose( ) function returns zero on success, or EOF if there is an error in closing the
file. This function actually, flushes any data still pending in the buffer to the file, closes
the file, and releases any memory used for the file. The EOF is a constant defined in the
header file stdio.h.
There are various functions provided by C standard library to read and write a file
character by character or in the form of a fixed length string.
WRITING A FILE
Following is the simplest function to write individual characters to a stream:
int fputc( int c, FILE *fp );
The function fputc() writes the character value of the argument c to the output stream
referenced by fp. It returns the written character written on success otherwise EOF if
there is an error. You can use the following functions to write a null-terminated string to
a stream:
int fputs( const char *s, FILE *fp );
The function fputs() writes the string s to the output stream referenced by fp. It returns a
non-negative value on success, otherwise EOF is returned in case of any error. You can
use int fprintf(FILE *fp,const char *format, ...) function as well to write a string into a
file. Try the following example:
#include <stdio.h>
main()
{
FILE *fp;
When the above code is compiled and executed, it creates a new file [Link] in /tmp
directory and writes two lines using two different functions. Let us read this file in next
section.
READING A FILE
Following is the simplest function to read a single character from a file:
int fgetc( FILE * fp );
The fgetc() function reads a character from the input file referenced by fp. The return
value is the character read, or in case of any error it returns EOF. The following
functions allow you to read a string from a stream:
The functions fgets() reads up to n - 1 characters from the input stream referenced by fp.
It copies the read string into the buffer buf, appending a null character to terminate the
string.
char *fgets( char *str, int num, FILE * stream );
Let's see a little more detail about what happened here. First fscanf() method read just
This because after that it encountered a space, second call is for fgets() which read the
remaining line till it encountered end of line. Finally last call fgets() read second line
completely.
Both of these functions should be used to read or write blocks of memories - usually
arrays or structures.
MORE EXAMPLES
a. Writing array elements (from user) into a text
file. #include<stdio.h> main()
{
int i, marks[5]; FILE
*myfile;
for(i=1;i<=5;i++) {
fprintf(myfile,"%d,",marks[i]);
}
fclose(myfile);
}
b. Writing a pattern of values into a text file.
#include<stdio.h>
main()
{ int k,l;
FILE *myfile;
myfile=fopen("C:/tmp/[Link]", "w");
for(k=1;k<=5;k++)
{ for(l=5;l>=k;l--)
{
fprintf(myfile,"%d ",l);
}
fprintf(myfile,"\n");
}
fclose(myfile);
}
c. Writing a customized greeting into a text file #include<stdio.h> main() { char
name[20]; FILE *myfile;
myfile=fopen("C:/tmp/[Link]","w+")
; fprintf(myfile,"Hello ");
fputs(name,myfile); fputs(" and
welcome\n",myfile); fclose(myfile);
}
Chapter 7
Types of Errors
1. Syntactic Errors
2. Execution Errors
3. Logical Errors.
Syntactic Errors
Syntax errors are generated when the programmer from the strict rules of the programming
language. These errors will prevent the program from being compiled or executed successfully.
Some particularly common errors of this type are:
a. Improperly declared variables
b. A reference to an undeclared variable
c. Incorrect punctuation, etc.
Most C compilers will generate diagnostic messages when syntactic errors have been detected
during the compilation process. These diagnostic messages are not always straightforward in their
meaning and they may not correctly identify where the error occurred (though they may attempt to
do so). Nevertheless, they are helpful in identifying the nature and the approximate location of the
errors. If a program includes several different syntactic errors, they may not all be detected on the
first pass through the compiler. Thus, it may be necessary to correct some syntactic errors before
others can be found.
This process could repeat itself through several cycles before all of the syntactic errors have
been identified and corrected.
Execution Errors
These errors occur if code attempts to execute an instruction that is impossible to carry out.
Execution errors occur during program execution, after a successful compilation.
Example of some common execution errors are:
a. A numerical overflow of underflow (exceeding the largest or smallest permissible
number that can be stored in a variable)
b. Division by zero
c. Attempting to compute the logarithm or the square root of a negative number, etc.
Diagnostic messages will often be generated in situations of this type, making it easy to identify and
correct the errors. These diagnostics are sometimes called execution messages or run-time messages,
to distinguish them from the compilation messages described earlier.
Logical Errors
Here the program executes correctly, carrying out the programmer’s wishes, but the programmer has
supplied the computer with instructions that are logically incorrect. Logical errors can be very difficult
to detect, since the output resulting from a logically incorrect program may appear to be error-free.
Moreover, logical errors are often hard to locate even when they are known to exist (as, for example,
when the computed results are obviously incorrect).
Fortunately, methods are available for finding the location of execution errors and logical errors
within a program. Such methods are generally referred to as debugging techniques. Some of the more
commonly used debugging techniques are described below.
DEBUGGING TECHNIQUES
Syntactic errors are relatively easy to find and correct, even if the resulting error messages are
unclear. Execution errors, on the other hand, can be much more troublesome. When an execution
error occurs, we must first determine its location (where it occurs) within the program. Once the
location of the execution error has been identified, the source of the error (why it occurs) must be
determined.
Error Isolation
Error isolation is useful for locating an error resulting in a diagnostic message. If the general location
of the error is not known, it can frequently be found by temporarily deleting a portion of the program
and then rerunning the program to see if the error disappears. The temporary deletion is
accomplished by surrounding the instructions with comment markers (/ * and * /), causing the
enclosed instructions to become comments.
If the error message then disappears, the deleted portion of the program contains the source of the
error. A closely related technique is that of inserting several unique printf statements, such as printf
("Debugging - l i n e 1\ n " ) ; printf ("Debugging - l i n e 2 \ n " ) ; [Link] various places within the
program. When the program is executed, the debug messages will indicate the approximate location
of the error. Thus, the source of the error will lie somewhere between the last printf statement
whose message did appear, and the first printf statement whose message did not appear.
Tracing
Tracing involves the use of printf statements to display the values assigned to certain key variables, or
to display the values that are calculated internally at various locations within the program. This
information serves several purposes. For example, it verifies that the values actually assigned to
certain variables really are (or are not) the values that should be assigned to those values. It is not
uncommon to find that the actual assigned values are different than those expected. In addition, this
information allows you to monitor the progress of the computation as the program executes. In many
situations, you will be able to identify a particular place where things begin to go wrong because the
values generated will be obviously incorrect.
Watch Values
A watch value is the value of a variable or an expression which is displayed continuously as the
program executes. Thus, you can see the changes in a watch value as they occur, in response to the
program logic. By monitoring a few carefully selected watch values, you can often determine where
the program begins to generate incorrect or unexpected values.
In Turbo C++, watch values can be defined by selecting Add Watch from the Debug menu (see Fig. 5.4
earlier in this chapter), and then specifying one or more variables or expressions in the resulting
dialog box.
The watch values will then be displayed within a separate window as the program executes.
Breakpoints
A breakpoint is a temporary stopping point within a program. Each breakpoint is associated with a
particular instruction within the program. When the program is executed, the program execution will
temporarily stop at the breakpoint, before the instruction is executed. The execution may then be
resumed, until the next breakpoint is encountered. Breakpoints are often used in conjunction with
watch values, by observing the current watch value at each breakpoint as the program executes.
To set a breakpoint in Turbo C++,select Add Breakpoint from the Debug menu (see Fig. 5.4), and then
provide the requested information in the resulting dialog box. Or, select a particular line within the
program and designate it a breakpoint by pressing function key F5. The breakpoint may later be
disabled by again pressing F5. (Function key F5 is called a "toggle" in this context, since it turns the
breakpoint on or off by successively pressing the key.)
Stepping
Stepping refers to the execution of one instruction at a time, typically by pressing a fbnction key to
execute each instruction. In Turbo C++, for example, stepping can be carried out by pressing either
function key F7 or F8. (F8 steps over subordinate functions, whereas F7 steps through the functions.)
By stepping through an entire program, you can determine which instructions produce erroneous
results or generate error messages.
Stepping is often used with watch values, allowing you to trace the entire history of a program as it
executes. Thus, you can observe changes to watch values as they happen. This allows you to
determine which instructions generate erroneous results.
Chapter 8
SOFTWARE DOCUMENTATION
Software documentation is written text that accompanies computer software. It both explains how
the software operates or how to use it and may mean different things to people in different roles.
Importance of software documentation
1. Provide for communication among team members
2. They should provide information for management to help them plan, budget and schedule
the software development process.
3. It acts as an information repository to be used by maintenance engineers
4. Describe to users how to operate and administer the system
5. In all software projects some amount of documentation should be created prior to any
code being written for example Design docs, etc.
6. Documentation should continue after the code has been completed for example User’s
manuals, etc.
The two main types of documentation created are Internal and External.
INTERNAL DOCUMENTATION
It is also known as In-Line Program Documentation and refers to the notes on how and why various
parts of code operate that are included within the source code as comments. It is often combined
with meaningful variable names with the intention of providing potential future programmers a
means of understanding the workings of the code.
a. ‘block comment’ which should be placed at the head of every method (also known as the
function or subprogram). This will include the method name; the purpose of the method; the
method’s pre– and post–conditions; the method’s return value (if any); and a list of all
parameters, including direction of information transfer (into this method, out from the
method back to the calling method, or both), and their purposes.
b. Meaningful identifier names. Traditionally, simple loop variables may have single letter
variable names, but all others should be meaningful. Never use nonstandard abbreviations. If
the programming language has a naming convention for variables, methods, classes, etc., then
those conventions should be used.
c. Each variable and constant must have a brief comment immediately after its declaration that
explains its purpose. This applies to all variables, as well as to fields of structure declarations.
d. Complex sections of the program that need some more explanations should have comments
just before or embedded in those program sections.
EXTERNAL DOCUMENTATION
This is documentation that is kept external to the program and provides a comprehensive description
of the design, development, and structure of a program. There are two types of external
documentation: Process and Product documentation.
PROCESS DOCUMENTATION
(a) Used to record and track the development process
Planning documentation
Cost, Schedule, Funding tracking
Schedules
Standards e.t.c.
(b) This documentation is created to allow for successful management of a software
product(c) Has a relatively short lifespan
(d) Only important to internal development process
(e) Except in cases where the customer requires a view into this data
(f) Some items, such as papers that describe design decisions should be extracted and
moved into the product documentation category when they become implemented
PRODUCT DOCUMENTATION
Describes the delivered product
Must evolve with the development of the software product
There are two main categories of process documentation:
1. Technical/System Documentation
This describes how the system works, but not how to operate it
Examples:
Requirements Spec
Architectural Design
Detailed Design
Commented Source Code
Including output such as JavaDoc
Test Plans
Including test cases
V&V plan and results
List of Known Bugs
2. User Documentation
The user documentation describes each feature of the program, and assists the user in realizing these
features. A good user document can also go so far as to provide thorough troubleshooting assistance.
User Documentation has two main types
End User
System Administrator
In some cases these are the same people. The target audience must be well understood.
There are five important areas that should be documented for a formal release of a software
application. These do not necessarily each have to have their own document, but the topics should be
covered thoroughly. These include:
Functional Description of the Software
Installation Instructions
Introductory Manual
Reference Manual
System Administrator’s Guide
Document Quality
Providing thorough and professional documentation is important for any size product development
team
Document Structure
All documents for a given product should have a similar structure
The authors “best practices” are:
Put a cover page on all documents
Divide documents into chapters with sections and subsections
Add an index if there is lots of reference information
Add a glossary to define ambiguous terms