It is a High level language. It is the both the general purpose and specific purpose programming language. C is the most popular and common programming language for every application developer. It was developed at the "Bell telephone laboratory in USA" (Now AT & T) in the year 1972 is the outcome of the effort of "Dennis Ritchie" and "Brain Kernighan".
C is derived from two early program languages, such as BCPL (Basic Combined Programming Language) and B Language. The BCPL was developed by Ken Thomson in 1970.
In 1972 Dennis Ritchie developed a new version of B and named as C. He selected the name C for his new language because, C comes after B in the alphabetic order, which indicates an advancement to B. Some sources also said said that "Dennis Ritchie" selected his second character of BCPL for naming is language. Initial there was a plan to develop the UNIX Operating System using C language, but C language itself is implemented on UNIX operating system. Although C strongly associated with the UNIX operating system.
Characteristics of C:
1. Structured programming Language.
2. Fast and Efficient.
3. General Purpose Language.
4. Rich set of operators.
5. Libraries with rich functions.
6. Helps in the development of System software.
7. Provides compact representation for expressions.
8. Allows manipulation of internal processor registers.
9. No regid format. Any number of statements can be typed in a single line.
10. Ability to extend itself by adding functions to it library.
Applications of C:
Some of the System software and Application software listed below.
1. System Software.
a. Operating System.
b. Interpreters.
c. Compilers.
d. Assemblers.
e. Editors.
f. Loaders.
g. Linkers.
2. Application Software.
a. Database System.
b. Graphic Packages.
c. Spreadsheets.
d. Word Processors.
e. Scientific and Engineering Applications.
