C Programming Language Standard

By | September 24, 2023

Prerequisite – C Language Introduction

The C programming language has various versions: C89/C90, C99, C11, and C18.

C89/C90: Released in 1989/1990. It introduced key language features.
C99: This brought new features like variable-length arrays and complex numbers.
C11: This added _Generic, static_assert, and library updates.
C18: It is latest standard, with clarifications and updates.

Advantages:

1. Efficiency: C is fast and suitable for high-performance apps.
2. Portability: C runs on many platforms.
3. Low-level access: C is Ideal for systems and OS development.
4. Large user community: C has various resources and libraries.

Disadvantages:

1. Steep learning curve: Complex syntax can be challenging.
2. Lack of memory management: No automatic memory handling.
3. No built-in OOP support: Not suitable for OOP like Java or Python.
4. No built-in concurrency: Challenging for multithreading.
5. Security vulnerabilities: Prone to issues like buffer overflows.

Importance:

1. Helps choose the right language for projects.
2. Aids in writing efficient code.
3. Prevents common coding pitfalls.
4. Facilitates communication in the programming community.

C programs may behave differently in various compilers due to standards. C standard may leave some behaviors undefined or unspecified. “void main()” violates the standard but may work in some compilers. You should avoid using constructs with undefined and unspecified behavior. C standard defines the behavior of C programs.

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Author: Mithlesh Upadhyay

I hold an M.Tech degree in Artificial Intelligence (2023) from Delhi Technological University (DTU) and possess over 4 years of experience. I worked at GeeksforGeeks, leading teams and managing content, including GATE CS, Test Series, Placements, C, and C++. I've also contributed technical content to companies like MarsDev, Tutorialspoint, StudyTonight, TutorialCup, and Guru99. My skill set includes coding, Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA), and Object-Oriented Programming (OOPs). I'm proficient in C++, Python, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, React.js, Node.js, MongoDB, Django, and Data Science.