C Syntax
Syntax
You have already seen the following code a couple of times in the first chapters. Let's break it down and understand what each part does:
Example explained
Line 1: #include <stdio.h> tells C to include a header file.
This header lets us use input/output functions such as printf() (used in line 4).
Don't worry if you don't understand how #include <stdio.h> works. Just think of it as something that (almost) always appears in your program.
Line 2: A blank line. C ignores extra spaces and blank lines, but we use them to make the code easier to read.
Line 3: main() is a special function. Your program starts running here.
Any code inside the curly brackets {} will be executed.
Line 4: printf() is a function used to output (print) text to the screen.
In our example, it prints Hello World!.
Note: Every C statement ends with a semicolon ;
Note: The body of int main() could also be written as:
int main(){printf("Hello World!");return 0;}
Remember: The compiler ignores extra spaces and new lines, but using multiple lines makes code easier to read.
Line 5: return 0 ends the main() function and sends a value back to the operating system.
Returning 0 usually means "everything worked". You will learn more about return values later.
Line 6: Do not forget the closing curly bracket } to end the main() function.
