Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

1. Explain the basic structure of a C program, data types, operators and input/output functions.
2. Demonstrate the use of control structures such as decision-making statements, loops and nested loops to control program flow.
3. Apply functions, including recursion, and understanding the scope, lifetime and storage classes of variables in program development.
4. Analyze the use of arrays, strings and pointers in C programming, including operations and passing them to functions.

Course Outline

Unit I: Introduction to Programming

Definition, importance of programming, steps involved in problem-solving. History of C Language: Evolution of C, features of C, applications of C. Structure of a C Program: Basic structure, compilation, and execution process. Data Types in C: Basic data types (int, char, float, double), constants, and variables. Operators and Expressions: Arithmetic, relational, logical, bitwise, and assignment operators, operator precedence and associativity. Input and Output Functions: printf(), scanf() functions, format specifiers.

Unit II: Decision Making Statements

if, if-else, nested if, else-if ladder, switch-case statements. Statements: for, while, do-while loops. Break and Continue Statements. Goto Statement. Nested Loops: usage, examples and applications.

Unit III: Introduction to Functions

Definition, advantages of using functions, types of functions (user-defined, library functions). Function Declaration and Definition: return types, function arguments, calling functions, and recursion. Call by Value vs Call by Reference. Scope and Lifetime of Variables: local and global variables, static, extern, auto and register storage classes. Recursive Functions: concept, examples and application.

Unit IV: Introduction to Arrays

Definition, types of arrays (one-dimensional and two-dimensional), declaration and initialization. Array Operations, Multidimensional Arrays. Pointers and Arrays: introduction to pointer concepts, relationship between arrays and pointers.

Suggested Readings

1. Balagurusamy, E. (2012). Programming in ANSI C. Tata McGraw-Hill.
2. Venugopal, K. (1997). Mastering C. Tata McGraw-Hill.
3. Gottfried, B. S. (1996). Fundamentals of C (2nd ed.). Schaum's Outline Series.
4. Kernighan, B. W., & Ritchie, D. M. (1990). The C programming language (2nd ed.). Prentice Hall.
5. Kanetkar, Y. (2006). Let us C (12th ed.). BPB Publications.